The relationship between the ÖVP and the Greens is (again) chilly. Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) said about his desire for an alliance with the SPÖ and NEOS at the federal level after the next national elections, sparking new excitement within the coalition. The protagonists now row back and calm down.
Thursday morning in Parliament. Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler tries to draw attention to himself with his speeches. His gaze is tired and wanders. The Greens’ head is looking a bit worn – as is the relationship with its Turkish coalition partner. Again and again he has to talk away friction. In particular, the Chancellor’s party’s ‘no’ to rent control, which would have made life easier for so many, is making green faces red with anger.
Rauch’s cashier is sitting
Then the voice of Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) on his desire for traffic lights: When asked by SPÖ spokesman Josef Muchitsch what would happen after the suspension of pensions in two years, Rauch said: “Then the elections and I assume that there will be a government with the SPÖ, at best together with NEOS and the Greens.” The sentence is correct.
Backtracking and emphasis on serenity
The government is trying to calm down. “It slipped out of him with emotion. He contacted us and apologized,” says the ÖVP club. Chancellor Karl Nehammer remains calm. Calm is generally part of governing. Moreover, Rauch has already qualified his statements.
In fact, the next day he referred to joint social projects. But such words do not escape randomly like lottery numbers. They must mature as thoughts. They do that in quite a few greens.
Difficult relationships, important connectors
There were and are also disagreements between Green Justice Minister Alma Zadić and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) – blockades in legal reform. To make matters worse, the WKStA has been investigating ÖVP people for some time, which eventually led to the end of the Kurz era. And Secretary Rauch is not very happy with Treasury Secretary Magnus Brunner’s retirement plans.
‘Nehammer and Kogler get along well’
“Karl Nehammer and Werner Kogler get along well. The same goes for club president August Wöginger and club president Sigi Maurer”, it sounds reflexively from the turquoise-green temple of harmony.
“Even if the facade crumbles, the building will stand”
Experts such as political scientist Kathrin Stainer-Hämmerle also see these brackets. Even if the facade crumbles, the building will hold, says political analyst Thomas Hofer. “Both are slowly positioning themselves towards their target groups with a view to the elections of 2024. The ‘best of both worlds’ agreement becomes the ‘rest of both worlds’.” The development of the swinging SPÖ is essential. “But I don’t think the ÖVP and the Greens are looking for an exit. The time is not yet right.”
Bad values and strategic thoughts
Above all, bad polls contradict a pause. Hofer: “Moreover, the Greens can score more points in a two-party coalition than in a traffic light.” Stainer-Hämmerle says Groen wants to implement projects, the ÖVP maybe new elections because they see a majority with the FPÖ. “But she needs an excuse.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
