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Journalism of Courage
In the campaign leading up to Sunday8217;s election, Austrian conservative Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel8217;s People8217;s Party asked voters 8216;8216;Who if not him8217;8217;? The answer came in a resounding 8216;8216;no one8217;8217;.
Austrians handed a landslide win to the master political tactician who poached voters, policies and personnel from Joerg Haider8217;s previously formidable far-Right Freedom Party.
Barely three years ago, Schuessel8217;s People Party was third in the polls, and the Faustian pact he made with Haider to fulfil his own dream of becoming Chancellor cost Austria eight months of international sanctions and pariah status in Europe.
This time, with the conservatives winning for the first time since 1966 with 42.9 per cent, up 16 per cent from 1999, voters have presented the 57-year-old his previous job on a plate, and the chance to negotiate a coalition government on his terms.
Known as a soft-spoken yet combative and persistent politician, Schuessel8217;s talents as pianist and cellist, painter and skier have earned him a reputation for intellectual superiority and the nickname 8216;8216;the little prince8217;8217;. 8216;8216;I am happy with what and who I am,8217;8217; the keen footballer and Mozart fan says in his web site.
Schuessel left all his coalition options open throughout the campaign, hinting he might either take a gamble with a weakened and fragmented Freedom Party or renew a 8216;8216;grand coalition8217;8217; with the socialists that governed for 13 years until 2000.
Schuessel studied law and economics before joining politics, getting elected as deputy party leader in 1987, and since holding posts as Economics Minister, Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister. His favours economic liberalisation, more state aid for families, Austrian entry into NATO and increased military spending. Reuters
