What was planned as the ÖVP’s triumphant start to the New Year in Vienna’s Metastadt led to discontent within the three-party coalition within hours. Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) achieved his goal of setting political accents in his speech to 250 officials – but he took the SPÖ and Neos by surprise. They knew nothing about his announcement that he would hold a referendum on army reform.
