Trust Index: Meinl-Reisinger Slips, Kickl Gains; Van der Bellen Leads

Austria's APA/OGM trust index reveals a largely stable political landscape as parliament begins its summer break. Neos party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger suffered the most significant decline in public trust, losing eleven points to a score of minus 20. This drop follows a debate surrounding the expulsion of Neos co-founder Veit Dengler from the party and parliamentary club.

Conversely, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl and Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer of the SPÖ recorded the most substantial gains in trust. Kickl, the only party leader to show an increase, gained six points. However, he still holds the lowest trust score among party leaders at minus 36. Chancellor Christian Stocker of the ÖVP maintains the highest trust rating among party leaders, despite a five-point decrease, resulting in a negative balance of minus 10.

Green Party leader Leonore Gewessler and SPÖ leader Andreas Babler also saw slight decreases in trust, losing two points each. Gewessler's score is minus 23, placing her behind Meinl-Reisinger, while Babler is at minus 35, just ahead of Kickl. President Alexander Van der Bellen continues to lead the overall trust index with an unchanged score of plus 23. Third President of the National Council Doris Bures follows with a score of plus 15, though she lost three points from April.

Finance State Secretary Barbara Eibinger-Miedl is the highest-ranking ÖVP government member, with a negative balance of minus 3 and a slight gain of two points. Only Marterbauer, with a gain of five points and a score of plus 11, is the sole government member with a positive balance. His increase may be linked to the announcement of his cancer diagnosis, which occurred during the survey period. Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner's trust score dropped to minus 1, attributed to discussions about potential university budget cuts. Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr and Health/Social Minister Korinna Schumann also experienced losses.