Even criminal charges

Turquoise-Greens face the end after going it alone

Turquoise-Greens fail on climate after five years.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/BKA/Andy Wenzel, Stock Adobe)

When the government was sealed five years ago between Sebastian Kurz and Werner Kogler, everyone thought that migration would be the biggest stumbling block on the Turkish-Green path. Instead, the ÖVP and the Greens argued most fiercely about the climate. And ultimately failed on the issue. Nevertheless, Chancellor Karl Nehammer does not want to end the coalition prematurely.

Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler has been a bone of contention for the Turquoise/Blacks for the longest time. Now it has escalated. Because of Gewessler's approval of the so-called EU renaturation law against the will of the Chancellor's party. Austria's vote ultimately gives the law the green light at EU level.

Action for annulment is new legal territory
This development has several interesting aspects: The charges of abuse of office against the minister show the intensity of the coalition collapse. And an action for annulment by an EU country is "uncharted legal territory", as European law expert Walter Obwexer explains to the "Krone" newspaper.

Turquoise-Greens fail on climate after five years.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/BKA/Andy Wenzel, Stock Adobe)

The People's Party is now bringing an action for annulment before the ECJ against the EU regulation and accusing Gewessler of abuse of office. The marriage of convenience is de facto broken. The election campaign has not only begun, but has also reached its first inglorious climax.

Oberwexer believes there is a good chance that the lawsuit will be successful, especially as Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer had already stated in writing to the Belgian Council President before the vote that Minister Gewessler was not speaking for Austria and that she was virtually disregarding "domestic political decision-making". The background to this is the disputes between the federal states. Initially, all the federal states were against the renaturation law, but in the end there were dissenters such as the powerful city of Vienna.  

It is also important in this context that Gewessler's yes vote ultimately made the law possible. A particularly explosive constellation, as the lawyer also points out. However, a decision on the law is not likely to be made until 2026. 

Chancellor speaks of breach of trust, but wants to "avoid chaos"
Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) had strong words for the Green initiative: it was a breach of the constitution and a "veritable government crisis". The Minister did not want to rule out an early end to the coalition for the time being. Chancellor Nehammer, who is in Brussels, declared in the early evening that he would not end the coalition prematurely. Despite a "breach of the law" by the minister and a "breach of trust", he wanted to avoid further "chaos".

The current provincial chairwoman Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) spoke of a "staircase joke of history: Gewessler single-handedly concludes a contract for which the provinces are responsible and have to pay. Gewessler himself bears no risk and no responsibility. But celebrates herself as a hero".

Kogler counters with a letter
His Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler countered with a letter of his own to the Belgian Council Presidency. Also signed by party colleague Gewessler. Kogler regretted that Belgium was becoming involved in the inner-Austrian conflicts. Furthermore, Nehammer's accusations were in any case legally incorrect. The Chancellor had no authority to issue directives in Austria, so Gewessler had been authorized to vote yes.

"Make up your own minds"
There was a similar reaction from Belgium to Nehammer's initiative. In other words: "The minister has voted on what happens in Austria, please sort it out yourselves. 

Experts analyze
But what does this episode mean for the parties involved? "The Greens were able to prioritize their issue before the elections. And thus appeal to their clientele. It is an important signal for their own voters," says political scientist Katrin Praprotnik. For the Greens, the decision therefore entails a manageable risk, even if the government were to collapse prematurely. Because what is important - especially so close to the elections - is their own record on the core issue. In other words, climate.

However, an end to the coalition would be a dangerous game for the ÖVP in particular. Then it would be a game of "free forces". And unstable conditions so close to elections would be counterproductive.

From now on there will be fouls and revenge fouls. Perhaps the yellow cards will be handed out after the elections.

Politikberater Peter Plaikner

For political consultant Peter Plaikner, it was a "deliberate and strategic action by the Greens". And a clever tactical move. It would also raise Leonore Gewessler's profile. "Particularly important since she was the starting point for the Schilling case. Gewessler was initially planned as the top candidate, but then canceled. Only then could Lena Schilling become the top candidate."

Green figureheads: Lena Schilling and Leonore Gewessler

(Bild: krone.tv)

Plaikner sees this current episode as a continuation of recent events. Kogler recently contradicted the ÖVP dictum that an EU Commissioner must automatically be from the ÖVP. Peter Plaikner: "One thing is certain. From now on there will be fouls and revenge fouls. Perhaps the yellow cards will be handed out after the elections."