The traffic light coalition takes off: New hope or just an illusion?

The traffic light coalition takes off: New hope or just an illusion?

After months of standstill, the traffic light coalition made up of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS has finally started government operations. On Monday, the three parties presented a program that shows some positive approaches in areas such as asylum, integration and security, but shows little substance in important future issues such as digitalization and artificial intelligence. Loud AUSTRIA The coalition lacks the spirit of optimism that would be necessary to regain the trust of the citizens. It is feared that this government will only act as a temporary solution and that new elections could take place in two years.

Five months after the election, the traffic light only faces the challenge of regaining lost trust. How daily news reported, there were already turbulent turns when the ÖVP fired its party leader Karl Nehammer in order to distance itself from Herbert Kickl and his radical FPÖ. However, this political maneuver has further damaged the already damaged trust in politicians. The SPÖ is also suffering from internal power struggles, and the NEOS are showing little willingness to compromise in the negotiations. Despite these challenges, the new ÖVP leader Christian Stocker could lead the government, even if he did not enter the race as the top candidate and his legitimacy remains questionable.

Gigantic challenges for the new government

The new coalition has to face enormous tasks: the economy is weak, the geopolitical situation remains tense, and the FPÖ has begun to radicalize further. These circumstances require the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS not only to find solutions to factual issues, but also to take a clear political course in order to give citizens confidence in the ability of politics to act again. The next period will be crucial for how the traffic light government and the FPÖ can assert themselves in this tense political landscape.