Government has not yet won the trust of citizens – the traffic light is shaking!

Government has not yet won the trust of citizens – the traffic light is shaking!

In the Austrian political landscape, the newly formed traffic light coalition, consisting of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, is currently experiencing a major loss of trust. According to a current survey by the Lazarsfeld Society, which was carried out on March 3rd and 4th, 2025, only 22% of those surveyed expressed trust in the government under Chancellor Christian Stocker. On the other hand, 46% of respondents say they do not trust the government. The division within the electorate is particularly striking: While 42% of ÖVP voters and 37% of SPÖ voters see Stocker's cabinet as trustworthy, 60% of FPÖ voters reject any trust whatsoever oe24.at reported.

Political scientist Daniela Braun explains the reasons for this discontent in the political system: “The traffic light coalition is also trashing its latest agreement on agricultural diesel,” she explains in an interview. She points out that the uncertainty and disunity within the coalition is undermining citizens' trust. Many people are irritated by the frequent conflicts and the inconsistent political decisions. This trust must be regained urgently, as continued dissatisfaction endangers the entire political system tagesschau.de notes. Braun recommends that the government should strive for clear communication in order to make the political process more understandable for voters.

Braun cites the fact that the population expects more transparency in political performance as a further cause of the crisis of trust. Political declarations and the implementation of political promises are crucial in gaining the trust of citizens. Currently, the numbers clearly show the gap between government action and public perception, which must be fixed in order to ensure effective and trustworthy governance.