ÖVP under pressure: Fürst criticizes power games and forgetting democracy!

ÖVP under pressure: Fürst criticizes power games and forgetting democracy!

In a special meeting of the National Council, overwritten with the title "Party or the state - what is the top priority at the ÖVP, Mr. Chancellor?" Dr. Susanne Fürst, Deputy Club Chairman of the Freedomers, on May 21, 2025, criticized the latest developments at the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). In particular, she targeted the behavior of the party in relation to democratic control instruments. Fürst said that the ÖVP apparently thinks that it was the state alone and ignored the essential values ​​of democracy, parliament, the opposition, the judiciary and the media. This vehemently criticized them as a misplaced interpretation of the power exercise and relationship with the population, such as [ots.at] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20250521_ots0170/fpoe-fuer-diese-oevp-- Democratic-Metter-Gelebter-Democracy) reported.

prince also questioned the qualification of central personalities in the ÖVP. The State Secretary Pröll answered questions on behalf of the absent Chancellor Stocker during the meeting. This only increases the growing uncertainty within the People's Party, which has been plagued by severe crises and secondary scandals in recent years, as the party's balance sheet from 2021 shows. This year the ÖVP had to change the Chancellor twice, which led to a deep loss of trust in the political leadership of the country, as Kontrast.at explains.

serious allegations and their consequences

The large number of scandals that surrounded the ÖVP in 2021 ranged from accusations of corruption to fake surveys to criminal proceedings against leading members of the party. The resignation of Minister of Labor Christine Aschbacher due to allegations of plagiarism was only the tip of the iceberg. There were also massive disabilities of the judiciary, which occurred in the media concepts such as "Ibiza affair" or "ÖVP corruption affair". This affair finally culminated in the resignation of Sebastian Kurz, the former Chancellor, who, despite his initial rejection of a withdrawal on October 9, 2021, ultimately resigned, such as [Wikipedia] (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/%96VP- Corruptionaff%C3%A4RE)

The claims on the misconduct of the ÖVP include the use of budget funds from the Ministry of Finance for manipulation of opinion polls, which were supported by advertisements in certain media to ensure well -known reporting. These manipulations are said to have aimed to influence public opinion and briefly promote political rise. The loss of trust in the ÖVP and the associated political turbulence are unmistakable and throw a dark shadow on the credibility of the party.

the split people's party

prince warns of the deep grave battles within the People's Party, which are becoming increasingly clear in the current political situation. Your criticism is also directed against the current practice of the ÖVP, to dismiss parliamentary inquiries and committees of investigation as a waste of money. This attitude could further undermine the democratic control elements and lead to a complication in the relationship between politics and citizens. Last but not least, Fürst is reminiscent of the former ÖVP finance minister Brunner, whose beautiful speech finally emerged as the greatest of the second republic at the deficit and who was promoted after the election as a highly praised EU commissioner.

Overall, the ÖVP is faced with the challenge of restoring its reputation among the population and distancing itself from the scandals of the past few years. Only through transparent and responsible politics could they try to regain lost trust.