"Krone" analysis

Kickl & Co. leave behind a shambles

Commentary on the major issues affecting Austria: Klaus Herrmann, Managing Editor-in-Chief

(Bild: Krone KREATIV)

What are Austria's top politicians - or should we say so-called top politicians - leaving behind? A single shambles! And who is meant by the so-called top politicians? No, it's not just Herbert Kickl and Christian Stocker, the two negotiators of a blue-black cooperation who failed so brilliantly.

The two gentlemen in particular, of course: Herbert Kickl not only had a window to the Chancellery, to quote the blue veteran Andreas Mölzer. He was closer to the door of the Chancellery than ever before. And even if he wins the coming elections by an even greater margin than he did in the National Council elections last September, he may not get that close again.

Herbert Kickl as landlord in the Chancellery, as Austrian head of government - that will not happen these days and, according to many insiders, including those in the FPÖ itself, it may never happen at all.

Because Kickl has overstepped the mark and has not found a partner. And the way in which the FPÖ leader, who was commissioned to form a government by the Federal President at a late stage, has conducted these negotiations, he will be even more unlikely to find a partner - presumably even more so if he wins new elections.

Christian Stocker - he did not become Vice-Chancellor under Kickl. He did not aspire to the position of ÖVP party leader and may not remain so for long.

The Federal President must also join the legions of losers: he should have let Kickl prove in the fall whether he would be able to forge a coalition. Back then, the election winner would probably not have flexed his muscles as vigorously as he has in recent weeks. In any case, we would have known by now whether he could or would find a partner - or not. Alexander Van der Bellen has cost us a lot of time.

Of course, Andreas Babler, Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Karl Nehammer have also cost us a lot of time. All of them and many more have left behind a shambles, a picture of Austrian domestic politics that could hardly be worse.

Karl Nehammer has at least drawn the consequences and retired. Now it is the turn of the next perpetrators of this shambles.

Austria is waiting for the urgently needed new start. It is not five minutes to twelve, but 15 minutes past twelve. New heads must clean up this shambles!