Government crisis

Mood in the cellar: Council of Ministers wobbles

Kogler and Nehammer no longer have much to say to each other.

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

The mood in the Turkish-Green government is in the cellar. Following the escalation of the crisis on Monday, it appears that they do not want to meet again any time soon. The ÖVP had initially considered canceling the Council of Ministers, but announced on Tuesday morning that it would take place after all - not in person, however, but by circular letter.

Officially, however, this is not due to the dispute over renaturation.
It had always been planned that there would be no meeting of the Council of Ministers in the Federal Chancellery and that decisions would be made by circulation - whereby texts or documents are passed on to all those involved for signature - according to government circles.

Research by the "Krone" revealed that this was not entirely true. Several people involved knew nothing about circular resolutions and assumed a "normal" meeting.

Back on schedule next week
According to the Federal Chancellery, the official explanation is that after the many resolutions of the past few weeks, this time it was mainly technical reports and resolutions that were on the agenda. The next Council of Ministers is scheduled to take place on Wednesday next week.

The crisis was triggered by Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler's (Greens) approval of the EU renaturation law against the will of the ÖVP. In response, the ÖVP announced a complaint against Gewessler for abuse of office and an action for annulment against the EU regulation.