Austria set to hold early general elections

"Good work in the Austrian government is no longer possible," Wilhelm Molterer told reporters. "The Social Democrats parted ways with the rest of the federal government." ÂThis meant the government was no longer capable of making joint decisions, he added.

 

Last month, Social Democrat Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer and party leader Werner Faymann announced they would submit all European treaties as well Turkey's possible EU membership to a referendum.

 

Their decision drew criticism not just from their coalition partners but from within their own party. Denouncing the decision at the time, Molterer said it was a serious mistake to pander to populist demands.

 

"I can’t stand aside and watch as the crisis in the SPOs becomes a crisis for Austria. Thus this step: immediate early elections, because that’s what Austria needs," Molterer added.

 

He said he planned to ask his party for early elections on Tuesday and hoped the conservatives and Social Democrats would make the request together in parliament as early as this week.

 

He had already informed Gusenbauer and Faymann of his plans, as well as President Heinz Fischer, he added. Molterer said he favored elections as early as September. Â

 

Austria has a so-called grand coalition government between the People's Party and the Social Democrats. Both have been bickering on and off since their union began in early 2007 following October 2006 elections that gave the Social Democrats a slight lead. Speculation about new elections has circulated for some time.

 

Austria's parliament ratified the Lisbon treaty in April. Gusenbauer, during heated debate before the vote, said ratifying the treaty was an important, necessary and right step for both Austria and Europe.

 

But Gusenbauer, whose popularity has plummeted amid dissatisfaction from members of his own party, justified his change of heart by citing the results of a recent study showing that only 28 percent of Austrians have a positive image of the EU.

 

Late Sunday, negotiators from both parties also failed to reach agreement on reform of the country’s health care system, further reflecting the deadlock between them.

 

Photo: Reuters