A government reshuffling in Austria has been concluded, with the political landscape remaining stagnant. The negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS have resulted in a general outline for the allocation of ministerial positions. The ÖVP will retain key ministries, such as the Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry, while the SPÖ will take over central portfolios like Finance, Social Affairs and Infrastructure. The NEOS will get the Foreign Ministry, with Beate Meinl-Reisinger set to lead it.
However, this reshuffling does not bring significant change to Austria. The allocation of ministerial positions may have a tactical value for the parties, but the political course remains the same. The coalition is opting for the familiar, rather than embracing new and bold changes. A new political project or even a vision for the country is not discernible.
The candidates for the ministerial positions also reflect the familiar. The Standard reports that former state secretaries, such as Muna Duzdar and other well-known names are being considered for the Justice Ministry. The idea of fresh faces or new ideas is being pushed to the background.
What is being celebrated as a kind of compromise could, on the other hand, be a fatal confirmation of the political stagnation in Austria. As so often in the past, the ministerial positions are not being distributed based on the principle of the best qualifications, but rather on political calculation. Another example of the country being stuck in a political vicious cycle, where the parties fight over posts, but no one dares to initiate fundamental changes.
And what about the future? Austria will continue to be governed by the same forces that have held the country in their grasp for years. The problems will remain unsolved, the reform backlog will continue to grow. It seems as if the political class has never really learned. The political course of today is the same as that of yesterday – and it does not look like it will change anytime soon.
In the end, the bitter realization remains: Austria will continue to operate as usual. The ministerial positions may be newly allocated, but the fundamental political challenges remain unsolved. It is another chapter in the story of a country that is not ready to reinvent itself.