Low level of trust

Super election year with little sympathy for parties

At the beginning of the super election year, the Austrian parties are not very popular. According to a Gallup poll conducted at the end of January, the SPÖ is still viewed most positively. At the same time, however, 52% of Austrians are against the Social Democrats - and all other parties are also viewed predominantly negatively. The head of the Austrian Gallup Institute, Andrea Fronaschütz, sees a "stalemate".

44% of the 1000 respondents (fluctuation range 3.2 percentage points) saw the SPÖ in a very or rather positive light, 37% the NEOS and the ÖVP, 36% the FPÖ and 33% the Greens. The governing parties and the FPÖ received the most negative ratings: 63% disapprove of the Greens, and 58% disapprove of the ÖVP and FPÖ. The Beer Party, whose participation in the national elections is not yet fixed, is viewed positively by 33%, the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) by 29%.

The low level of trust in the parties is also reflected in their leaders. 36% trust Andreas Babler (SPÖ), 34% each trust Werner Kogler (Greens) and Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS), 32% trust Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) and Dominik Wlazny (Bierpartei). Herbert Kickl (FPÖ) scored the worst among the leaders of the parties represented in the National Council with 30 percent. KPÖ leader Günther Hopfgartner is trusted by 22 percent.

Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (left) enjoys slightly more trust from the electorate than Chancellor Karl Nehammer.(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Government parties perform poorly
Trust in the parties' ability to solve problems also leaves much to be desired. The FPÖ and the SPÖ each have 35% confidence in their ability to bring about positive change in Austria, while the NEOS have 33%. The governing parties fared worse - 32% of the ÖVP and 28% of the Greens believe this. However, some sympathizers of other parties also believe that the ÖVP and SPÖ are capable of solving problems, while the FPÖ is mainly believed to be capable by its own voters. 26% believe that the Beer Party could herald positive changes, 23% the Communist Party.

In the next government, Austrians can imagine the three parties that are currently leading the election polls in roughly equal measure. 34% think the SPÖ should be represented in it, 33% each think the ÖVP and the FPÖ. The NEOS would like to see 26% in the government, the Greens, who are currently in government, 25%. However, 22% could also imagine the Beer Party, which would be in the National Council for the first time, and 14% could imagine the KPÖ in the government.