VIENNA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Austrians appear supportive of a conservative government coalition ahead of the Sept. 29 legislative election despite the same alliance having been brought down by a corruption scandal just last May, a new poll has shown.

Released on Thursday, the poll by marketing company OGM conducted on behalf of the Kurier newspaper showed that 32 percent of poll respondents support a renewed coalition between the center-right People's Party (OVP) led by former chancellor Sebastian Kurz and the right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPO).

The same two parties were in a coalition following the 2017 legislative elections until a corruption scandal known as the "Ibiza affair" involving the FPO rocked the political establishment last May, and led to a complete collapse in the government, replaced by a caretaker cabinet.

An OGM poll at the beginning of June had support for an OVP-FPO coalition at a considerably lower 24 percent.

In second place was a three-way left-leaning coalition between the centre-left Social Democrats (SPO) and minor parties the Greens and Neos with 26 percent support.

A similar grouping with the OVP instead joining forces with the two minor parties had the backing of only 11 percent of respondents, despite receiving a much higher 30 percent support in the June poll in the immediate aftermath of the Ibiza scandal.

Only 11 percent of poll respondents wished to see a return of the so-called "grand coalition" between the OVP and the SPO, by far the most common coalition configuration in post-war Austria.

Some media speculation had revolved around a possible alliance between the FPO and the SPO, though the unlikely partnership appears to be seen as such by the public, only six percent declaring their support. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)