Government exam: Where does Austria go for in the crisis year 2025?

Government exam: Where does Austria go for in the crisis year 2025?

The Austrian government is facing a crucial phase: On Tuesday, the three-way coalition from the ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos will meet in a government exam in the Chancellery at Wiener Ballhausplatz. New Chancellor Christian Stocker and his 21-member team recognize the urgency to counteract the impending economic decline. In view of the upcoming third recession in a row, the question of an economic upswing is more urgent than ever. Economic researchers Gabriel Felbermayr (WIFO) and Holger Bonin (IHS) are also sitting at the table to clarify whether the planned 6.4 billion savings package is sufficient to avert an EU deficit procedure, such as OE24.at reported.

The government program is to be checked for growth -promoting measures that can be passed quickly. An example of this, which leads to Stocker, is the planned loss of proof of proceedings for sales less than 35 euros. The urgency of a clear budget strategy is also given, since so far only preliminary budget laws have been passed. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer has to keep his budget speech in the National Council until mid-May, the time, as in the report of DiePresse.com

crisis situation and possible ways out

The political landscape is changing rapidly: after the coalition from Blau-Turkis, there are considerations for several options, from a new edition of the three-talks to possible new elections. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen emphasized that there are no disturbing reasons and that the search for a new government does not have to fully stalled. In the past few days, the call for a new attempt by the already failed turquoise-red-pink coalition. SPÖ boss Andreas Babler and the NEOS signal an interest in the dialogue with the ÖVP, while considerations to return to the “grand coalition” between the ÖVP and SPÖ also arise, although the majority in the National Council is extremely thin.

The possibilities are diverse: in addition to a coalition government, a minority government or an expert government could also be in the room. However, an expert government would have the disadvantage that it would not have the necessary support in the National Council to guarantee planning security. While the FPÖ calls for new elections, other parties hope that stable government formation will lead to. Negotiations are tough, and as van der Bellen notes, "lack the humility before the other's opinion". This situation could prove to be a major challenge for the current parties who have to strive for peaceful and functioning solutions.