Sebastian Kurz: Austrian conservative set to become world's youngest leader

Sebastian Kurz: Austrian conservative set to become world's youngest leader

 BBC World News 16 October 2017

 Austria's conservative People's Party, led by 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, is set to win the country's general election, projections suggest.

Mr Kurz is on course to become the world's youngest national leader.

The People's Party was set to win more than 31%. It is so far unclear whether the Social Democrats or the far-right Freedom Party will finish second.

Short of a majority, Mr Kurz's party could seek an alliance with the anti-immigration Freedom Party.

Addressing his supporters, Mr Kurz said: "It is time for change in this country. Today is a strong order for us, to change this country, and I say thank you to you all who made this possible.

"I'm overwhelmed, I am happy, and I look forward to working for Austria."

Who is Sebastian Kurz?

Before the election, Mr Kurz served as Europe's youngest-ever foreign minister, after he was appointed in 2013 aged just 27.

In May 2017 he became the leader of the People's Party. He began his political career in the youth wing of the party, which he chaired before moving on to serve on Vienna's city council.

Nicknamed "Wunderwuzzi" (very roughly translated as wonder hotshot), he has been compared to the young leaders of France and Canada, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau.

Much like Mr Macron, Mr Kurz has created a movement around himself, rebranding the People's Party - which has been in power for more than 30 years - as "The New People's Party".

What were the main issues?

Immigration was the dominant issue in the run-up to the vote, and Mr Kurz moved his party to the right in the wake of Europe's 2015 refugee crisis.

He appealed to conservative and right-wing voters with pledges to shut down migrant routes to Europe, cap benefit payments to refugees, and bar immigrants from receiving benefits until they have lived in Austria for five years.

The rightward shift was seen as a response to the success of the Freedom Party, which narrowly missed out on the presidency in December when Norbert Hofer was defeated by Alexander Van der Bellen, head of the Greens.

The stance proved popular with Austrian voters after a huge influx of undocumented migrants and refugees from the Middle East and North Africa.

The Freedom Party accused Mr Kurz of stealing their policies. Their candidate, Heinz-Christian Strache, has called him an "imposter".

What next?

Mr Kurz is on course to win the lion's share of the vote but not a majority. If the forecasts are correct, he will need to form a coalition, most likely with the Freedom Party.

The last coalition between the Social Democrats and the conservatives fell apart this spring - and there may be reluctance to renew it. But an alliance with the populist, far-right Freedom Party could prove controversial among Austria's EU counterparts.

Mr Kurz refused to discuss his plans, saying only that he would talk to other parties. He says he wants to wait for final results.

Polls have put the Freedom Party at an all all-time high of 26.9%, suggesting that the European far-right is not dead after emphatic defeats in France and the Netherlands.

The relative success of the Freedom Party follows an electoral breakthrough by the far right in neighbouring Germany last month.

What about the opposition?

The current chancellor, Social Democrat leader Christian Kern, could lose his position after a campaign marred by several scandals, including allegations that his adviser led an online smear campaign against Mr Kurz.

But Mr Kern said on Sunday he had no intention of standing down as leader, despite the party's loss. "I have said I will stay in politics for 10 years and there are nine years to go," he told broadcaster ORF.

After a tumultuous year with internal rifts, the pro-refugee Greens party is among several smaller parties uncertain of reaching the 4% threshold required to enter parliament.

Republic of Austria

Capital: Vienna

·         Population 8.7 million

·         Area 83,871 sq km (32,383 sq miles)

·         Major language German

·         Major religion Christianity

·         Life expectancy 80 years (men), 84 years (women)

·         Currency euro UN, World Bank

My response:

Elections to me always seem messy and difficult to understand. This one is no less so for Austria, but raises a bigger issue in our world today. Traditionally leaders have been revered for their age and experience, they are the ones we trust. We expect them to hold up our foundations in the past, the ideals of their country in their traditions and established culture and policies. But now younger leaders are taking the global stage, and people get excited because they see in them the vision of the future. Does Mr.Kurz have the knowledge and experience to fulfill more than empty promises but to do his job well? Before the election, Mr Kurz served as Europe's youngest-ever foreign minister, after he was appointed in 2013 aged just 27. Without the knowledge of how he has performed under previous responsibilities it is difficult to say how ready he is for the job. Nevertheless it seems he has had some experience in his field and would not have reached the position he is in today without some sort of effective leadership capabilities. He sounds very youthful, he wants to bring change, and is overwhelmed and happy at what the future might bring. While some young leaders bring new ideas the Freedom Party has accused Mr Kurz of stealing their policies. Their candidate, Heinz-Christian Strache, has called him an "imposter". But the accusation of foul play is not one sided.

As far as bias is concerned I think there is plenty as far as the different sides who trying to be elected. They accuse each other and don’t seem to see the good things each side could bring in trying to work together to serve the people. Bias in the author of the article is harder to distinguish. He does quote both sides, but as far as giving them both a fair representation I’m not so sure. Maybe there is a leaning towards what Mr. Kurz as the new exciting leader will bring and what he’s facing right now. For my own bias towards younger or older leaders is hard for me to pick out. I generally agree that age brings wisdom and experience, but I don’t want to dismiss other leaders’ potential just because they are young. A balance is needed for both sides to stand together.