Above all Schallenberg

Austria’s top politicians gain trust

From left: Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

According to the new APA/OGM Trust Index, Austria's top politicians have better ratings than in December 2023. They include Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (both ÖVP).

The President of the National Council Doris Bures (SPÖ), Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens), Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) and Green Justice Minister Alma Zadic are also on the rise. Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) is in the lead among the top candidates for the EU elections, although he is still in negative territory. SPÖ leader Andreas Babler and Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) recorded the biggest drop in confidence.

Here you can see the results in detail.

Four out of 32 are less trusted
Overall, four out of 32 top politicians in this country are less trusted than in December 2023. In addition to Totschnig and Babler, they include NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger and FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) remains at the bottom of the list, although his score has improved by five points.

Surprising results
This time, the top EU candidates were also surveyed for the first time. Brandstätter leads ahead of ÖVP candidate Reinhold Lopatka, Andreas Schieder (SPÖ), Lena Schilling (Greens) and FPÖ candidate Harald Vilimsky.

The results are based on 967 online interviews with eligible voters. OGM head Wolfgang Bachmayer said that the election campaign usually leads to polarization and the results are therefore surprising. However, the two committees of inquiry soon to be launched could cause confidence in top politicians to fall again.