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Poll finds Austrians have lost faith in their government, with 61% indifferent to ruling coalition's collapse

By ramontomeydw // 2025-07-08

• A Lazarsfeld survey finds that 61 percent of Austrians no longer care if the ruling coalition collapses, reflecting deep societal discontent, with many viewing the country as a "lost cause."
• Rising inflation, unchecked immigration and political scandals such as misuse of taxpayer funds for luxury cars and foreign aid have exacerbated public anger, leaving households struggling financially.
• A spike in violent crime, Islamic radicalization (e.g., a teenage ISIS recruiter's trial) and inadequate government responses have heightened fears, drawing parallels to past cycles of extremism.
• Austrians recall post-WWI hyperinflation and 1930s extremism, seeing similar patterns as economic hardship fuels social fragmentation and institutional distrust.
• Public apathy signals a collapse of faith in leadership, with experts warning that without urgent reforms, Austria's descent into irreversible distrust may mirror broader Western democratic decline.

Austria, once a bastion of stability in Europe, now teeters on the brink of societal collapse as public disillusionment with the federal government reaches unprecedented levels. A Lazarsfeld survey from late May reveals that 61 percent of Austrians no longer care whether the ruling coalition survives, with many declaring the nation a "lost cause." Rising inflation, unchecked immigration and a cascade of political scandals – from lavish taxpayer-funded luxury cars to controversial foreign aid spending – have pushed citizens into open revolt. Against this backdrop, violent attacks and Islamic radicalization – including the trial of a teenage ISIS recruiter in Linz – have deepened public despair. This has left officials in Vienna scrambling to salvage trust in a system that appears increasingly detached from reality. The numbers paint a grim portrait of discontent. Only 27 percent of Austrians express satisfaction with the government's performance, according to the Lazarsfeld survey. Meanwhile, 44 percent describe themselves as openly opposed to current policies. (Related: Shock poll: 72% of Americans see Big Government as greatest threat to their future.) Inflation and soaring energy costs have left households struggling to afford basic necessities, yet political elites seem preoccupied with international aid projects rather than domestic suffering. As Austrians face eviction over unpaid rent, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger's generous allocations of taxpayer money abroad and State Secretary Sepp Schellhorn's acquisition of luxury vehicles funded by public coffers have stoked outrage.

Vienna's broken institutions fuel crisis of legitimacy

These scandals, compounded by a surge in violent crime and extremist activity, have shattered any remaining public patience. But historical context amplifies the gravity of Austria’s crisis. The country, still haunted by memories of post-WWI hyperinflation and the rise of extremism in the 1930s, now sees eerie parallels as economic instability fuels social fragmentation. The bloody attack in Graz and the trial of a 16-year-old ISIS supporter in Linz mirror past cycles where desperation bred radicalism, a trend policymakers appear ill-equipped to counter. Meanwhile, the government’s reactive, crisis-to-crisis governance style has eroded faith in institutions – echoing the populist disillusionment that swept Europe during the 2015 migration crisis. The public’s apathy is not passive resignation but a damning indictment. When nearly two-thirds of citizens no longer care if their leadership collapses, it signals a collapse of legitimacy itself. As Society for Personality and Social Psychology President Brenda Major notes, political disillusionment often stems from the "social, cognitive and emotional dynamics" of betrayal – a sentiment now palpable in Austria. Austria's crisis serves as a cautionary tale for Western democracies. When leaders prioritize optics over survival, and privilege over the people, the result is not just discontent but dissolution. Without urgent course correction, the nation's descent into distrust may become irreversible. Watch Del Bigtree and Dr. Maria Hubmer-Mogg discussing Austrian protests against COVID-19 tyranny in this clip. This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

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Austrians reject digital currencies, demand "right to cash payments." American distrust in deceptive mainstream media hits an all-time high. Fully 80 Percent of Americans have lost trust in the government ... Only one-in-five still think government can solve all their problems. Sources include: InfoWars.com EuropeanConservative.com Exxpress.at Brighteon.com

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