Austria’s government has announced an “autumn of results” as coalition leaders pledged to turn months of wrangling into concrete action. At a briefing on Wednesday, the heads of the three governing parties struck an optimistic tone, saying they expected to find solutions soon on a long list of disputes, from the federal public prosecutor’s office to a new “future fund” for investment.
“It is to be the autumn of results,” declared Chancellor Christian Stocker of the conservative ÖVP. Still, there were no major breakthroughs to announce, only promises to work harder and faster, as reported by the oe24.
Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler of the centre-left SPÖ said the coalition must offer a clear alternative to the politics of the far-right AfD and FPÖ. “The radically democratic counter-model to what these parties stand for is to do serious work,” he said.
The trio did not deny that conflicts within the government are frequent. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger of the liberal NEOS even found something positive in the friction. “These are different parties with different approaches, and it is good that this is visible,” she said.
Stocker said the very fact that voices differ inside the coalition disproves accusations from the FPÖ. “We are not a one-party state,” he insisted, adding that all three partners remain committed to finding joint solutions. He pointed to conscription, social assistance and a partnership reform as items the government wants to deliver in the coming weeks.
Progress appears closest on drought relief. The measures are due to be discussed at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting and are expected to pass parliament in September, alongside a draft of a new climate law. Meinl-Reisinger also wants to push ahead with deregulation projects in the next few weeks. Babler said protecting women must be a top priority, calling for tighter monitoring of dangerous offenders and harsher penalties for sexual crimes.
The ministers also appealed to the opposition to join talks on constitutional matters, including reforms to mandatory civilian service. “The Greens and the FPÖ should live up to their responsibility to the state,” Meinl-Reisinger said.
The brief media appearance before the cabinet meeting was all there would be. The usual press conference after the government session did not take place.
