04. 01. 12. - 15:35

Glawischnig courts SPÖ

Green Party chairwoman Eva Glawischnig has revealed she could imagine forming a minority coalition with the Social Democrats (SPÖ).

When asked in a radio interview for possible options after the next election, Glawischnig said yesterday (Tues) cooperating with the Social Democrats might be an option. The Greens chief also told Ö1 that forming a three-party coalition with the SPÖ and its current government partner, the People’s Party (ÖVP) was not an alternative to her.

Already last year, Glawischnig made clear her faction would not cooperate with the right-wing Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ). Political analysts saw rising chances of a coalition between the SPÖ, the Greens and the BZÖ due to BZÖ boss Josef Bucher’s attempts to position his party as a liberal political force.

A poll by OGM showed at the weekend that the Greens could claim 14 per cent in the next federal ballot, three per cent more than they would have received at the beginning of 2010. The Austrian Greens managed to avoid significant losses in the most recent general and provincial elections – but also failed to get the support of everyone who approved their anti-nuclear technology and pro-immigration attitude.

Glawischnig said yesterday her party was ready for the campaign trail if the government collapsed before the scheduled federal election date of autumn 2013. More and more political commentators expected the coalition to break up later this year due to its stark differences of opinion regarding the state budget, health sector issues and new taxes.

The Greens said they might give the go-ahead to the government’s debt brake draft bill but also appealed to SPÖ and ÖVP to finally sort out their feud about how to restore the budget. Glawischnig said yesterday the government must reveal which measures it considered in the intensified struggle against the soaring state debt. The Green Party chairwoman stressed her faction would only approve a debt brake law if it featured higher taxes on assets. Greens deputy leader Werner Kogler previously explained that his party demanded the introduction of stricter rules for financial market speculators.

Ulrike Lunacek – who represents the Austrian Greens in the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg, France – recently lashed out at SPÖ boss Werner Faymann and ÖVP chief Michael Spindelegger. Lunacek accused the chancellor and the vice chancellor of failing to take European policies seriously. She deplored that "Austria does not get recognised in the EU (European Union)" because of the government leaders’ cautiousness.

Franz Fischler also criticised the ÖVP. The former ÖVP agriculture minister and European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries told the Kurier last month: "My party engaged more strongly in communicating European topics in the past than it does at the moment."

Around two thirds of Austrians supported the country’s accession when they were asked to decide if Austria should become a member of the EU in 1994. Austria joined the EU on 1 January 1995. Investigations by European research group Eurobarometer and Austrian pollster Ifes showed in June 2008 that one in three Austrians wanted their country to leave the EU again. The number of Eurosceptics dropped to around 21 per cent in June 2011. "The EU must become more serious and credible," Fischler said speaking to the Kurier.