Snap election may not end Austrian government crisis

Significance

This comes after the sudden resignation of Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner as head of the OeVP, announced on May 10, precipitated a government crisis. His successor as party leader, 30-year-old Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, two days later unilaterally declared the collapse of the grand coalition with the Social Democrats (SPOe) live on television, demanding a snap parliamentary election.

Impacts

• Kurz is likely to represent a more critical line on the EU, pushing for reforms.
• Bad blood between the SPOe and the OeVP could open the door for a coalition with the FPOe even if it incurs losses.
• As in France, there is a trend towards personality politics in a country where political parties have traditionally been dominant.