Coalition Ended in Austria; New Election Called
VIENNA — Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky dissolved the governing coalition between his Socialist Party and the small right-wing Freedom Party on Monday and called an early general election for November.
Vranitzky, speaking after a crisis meeting of his party’s presidium, said senior party officials agreed that the election of Joerg Haider as Freedom Party leader was an unacceptable shift to the right in the junior coalition party.
Haider, 36, was chosen over the weekend to replace Norbert Steger, who had sought since the coalition was formed in 1983 to lead the staunchly nationalistic party toward a more liberal policy.
Socialist Party Chairman and former Chancellor Fred Sinowatz said the election, which had not been due until next April, would probably be held on Nov. 23.
Vranitzky did not rule out that the three Freedom Party ministers now serving in his cabinet--Steger, Defense Minister Helmut Kruenes and Justice Minister Harald Ofner--could remain in office until the election.
Steger has already offered his resignation but agreed to Vranitzky’s request to remain in his post until the situation has cleared.
Vranitzky will see President Kurt Waldheim today to inform him of the election decision.
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