Austrian politicians still struggle with declining confidence. The values of the peaks in federal politics in the OGM confidence index have fallen again from the last poll in March. Even Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen lost ten points of confidence. Overall, only five of the 27 politicians surveyed achieved a positive trust value, i.e. more positive than negative opinions.
For the confidence index, a survey is conducted several times a year to determine how many voters do or do not trust the politician in question. The balance of the two values results in the confidence index, with the Federal President traditionally achieving the highest value. In the current version, 933 representatively selected voters were polled between 12 and 13 July. The maximum fluctuation range is plus/minus 3.1 percent.
Low flight continues
According to OGM chief Wolfgang Bachmayer, the latest confidence index in March had already seen its lowest confidence values since the confidence index began more than 20 years ago. Now the decline in confidence continues. According to Bachmayer, the main reason for this is dissatisfaction with both communication and measures that are perceived as hesitant in relation to inflation and energy supply. By contrast, the pandemic issue, which has been dominant for more than two years, has “gone completely into the background”.
Van der Bellen still in first place
Van der Bellen is in first place with a balance of 32, although the Federal President also lost ten points of confidence. Then comes Minister of Economy and Labor Martin Kocher (ÖVP) with a balance of 13. The second president of the National Council, Doris Bures (SPÖ), is still in the plus, although she lost three points from 12 compared to March , Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) with minus nine on seven points and State Secretary for Culture Andrea Mayer (Greens) with a balance of two.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) has lost 13 points since March and has fallen to a negative confidence balance of nine. Climate minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) loses confidence to the same extent and falls back to a value of minus 25. Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) has to accept the biggest loss of minus 14 to minus 20.
The Green Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (minus 8 to minus 13) and the club representatives of SPÖ (Pamela Rendi-Wanger minus five to minus eleven), NEOS (Beate Meinl-Reisinger minus six to minus ten), Greens (Sigrid Maurer minus one to minus 26) and ÖVP (August Wöginger minus seven to minus 35). Only FPÖ boss and club president Herbert Kickl can win seven points of confidence, but is still in last place with a balance of minus 60.
A green one stands out
According to Bachmayer, one positive change clearly stands out from the long series of confidence losses: Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) managed to gain ten confidence points against the negative trend and achieve a “relatively acceptable value” of minus eight points. “The main reason may be that he has been more minister of Social Affairs lately and has responded to social themes such as health care reform and support for the socially disadvantaged in view of galloping inflation,” said Bachmayer.
Source: Krone
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