Experts take over in Austria
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has sworn in a caretaker interim government to support Interim Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein. It consists of experts - many of the ministers were in top positions in their respective areas of responsibility - and is to take care of the day-to-day governing of the country until new elections are held in September. But will it simply manage the country or actively define its policies?
Strength is born of calm
The non-elected government of experts should focus on managing the state, the Süddeutsche Zeitung recommends:
“After the dissolution of the coalition government the various factions in the parliament have free play and this is releasing destructive forces that are hoping to settle old scores through new, changing majorities. In view of these dangers the interim government would do well to focus on management and leave the shaping of the new government to be elected in September to others. In its case after this turbulent period its strength will indeed consist in remaining calm - and that alone could set the style for any government that comes afterwards and will be measured against the experts.”
Make clever use of room for manoeuvre
Der Standard, on the other hand, believes Austria's interim government would do well to define certain priorities:
“For example the government could make its mark with the many young people who, driven by concern about their future, are taking to the streets to demand a turnaround in climate policy. ... Yes, the new government's room for manoeuvre depends on the parliament and the parties represented there. But with a few clever proposals and initiatives beyond party-political moves and coalition-related compromises it could exert substantial pressure on the strategists in the party headquarters.”
Kurz will find new partners
Political scientist Viktor Savinok outlines in Ukrayinska Pravda how ex-chancellor Kurz can make a swift comeback:
“Right now the representatives of the ÖVP are ruling out the possibility of a new coalition with the FPÖ. The liberals of the Neos party and the Austrian Greens have good prospects of being represented in the newly elected National Council. ... They're at between eight and ten percent in the polls right now. Interestingly, despite their criticism of the Kurz government the Neos are the only opposition party that didn't support the no-confidence vote against the Kurz government. ... So a coalition or at least a collaboration between the ÖVP and the liberals is not out of the question.”