Collapse of Austrian Government Averted for the Time Being

May 20, 2019 (EIRNS)—Accomplices of the Russiagaters in Europe, which have tried to armtwist the Austrian government away from its pro-China and pro-Russia orientation, rejoice at the destabilization of that government one week before the elections for European Parliament. When this Austrian coalition government took office in December 2017, it was the first in Europe to write a commitment, if limited, to the New Silk Road into its government program.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) did not, as was widely expected, dismiss Interior Minister Herbert Kickl of the FPÖ and risk the walkout of three other FPÖ ministers from his coalition government. But Kurz is definitely going for early elections sometime in September, expecting his own party to gain more seats in the Parliament. The European Parliament elections on Sunday, May 26 will show whether the ÖVP will benefit from the video affair and whether the FPÖ will suffer—which would be seen as a prelude to the formation of a new ÖVP coalition government with the Socialists (SPÖ) after the early elections in Austria. There are also rumors that Kurz may still end the coalition after the European elections and replace the FPÖ cabinet ministers with non-party experts in a transition government until the September elections in Austria.