25 years of black-blue

Former minister: “Not comparable with today”

Three powerful gentlemen, one of them visibly not amused: Federal President Thomas Klestil vowed to form the agitator coalition between Wolfgang Schüssel (ÖVP) Jörg Haider (FPÖ) on February 4, 2000.(Bild: APA/HARALD SCHNEIDER)

A quarter of a century ago, the first black-blue coalition was sworn in. Today, both parties are negotiating renewed cooperation. There is less excitement than back then. Former Interior Minister Strasser (ÖVP) and former Justice Minister Michael Krüger (FPÖ) remember.

Something historic happened 25 years ago today. The government under Wolfgang Schüssel with the FPÖ marched to the inauguration. Black-Blue not only caused lasting protests in Austria - the government had to march underground to the Hofburg to be sworn in by the ice-cold looking Federal President Thomas Klestil. And abroad, Austria was seen as a pariah in the Union. A government with right-wing populists? What is closer to normality today than much else was a no-go back then. Protagonists remember.