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Austrians Divided on Chancellor Faymann
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - People in Austria are split in their appreciation of Werner Faymann, according to a poll by OGM. 45 per cent of respondents express confidence in the current chancellor and Social-Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) leader, whereas 46 per cent say they have no confidence in him, up two points since November.
In contrast, 59 per cent of respondents express confidence in vice-chancellor and Austrian People’s Party (OVP) leader Josef Proell.
In October 2006, Austrian voters renewed the Federal Council. Final results gave the SPO 35.71 per cent of the vote and 68 lawmakers, followed by the OVP with 34.33 per cent and 66 legislators. In January 2007, SPO leader Alfred Gusenbauer was formally sworn in as the country’s new federal chancellor, heading a coalition government encompassing the SPO and the OVP.
In July 2008, the OVP left the administration, forcing an early ballot. The federal election took place in September. Final results gave the SPO—led by Faymann—57 seats, followed by the OVP with 51 mandates. The anti-immigration, far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) saw its presence in the Federal Council increase to 34 legislators. Immediately after the election, the OVP picked Proell as its new leader, substituting Willhelm Molterer.
In December 2008, a new SPO-OVP coalition government was established, with Faymann as chancellor and Proell as vice-chancellor and finance minister.
On Feb. 22, Faymann announced that the government is definitely "going to introduce a bank levy," and responded to criticism from the banking sector, saying, "It’s up to the government to decide and it’s up to the parliament to decide on a bank tax. It’s not up the banking chiefs."
The Austrian government plans to introduce a "solidarity tax" of between 0.7 and 1.0 per cent of banks’ total assets.
Polling Data
Do you have confidence in Social-Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) leader Werner Faymann?
|
Feb. 2010 |
Nov. 2009 |
Jun. 2009 |
|
|
Confidence |
45% |
47% |
53% |
|
No confidence |
46% |
44% |
39% |
Do you have confidence in Austrian People’s Party (OVP) leader Josef Proell?
|
Feb. 2010 |
Nov. 2009 |
Jun. 2009 |
|
|
Confidence |
59% |
61% |
60% |
|
No confidence |
35% |
31% |
23% |
Source: OGM
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 500 Austrian voters, conducted on Feb. 8, 2010. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.
