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Austrian Social Democrat calls for new election

VIENNA: A leading Austrian Social Democrat called on Wednesday for early fresh elections, saying voters would now choose differently after the international outcry over the possibility of Joerg Haider's Freedom Party gaining power.

Karl Schloegl, who is interior ministry in the outgoing government headed by Chancellor Viktor Klima, said the best solution would be a Social Democrat-led minority government followed by early elections. The conservative People's Party and Haider's far-right Freedom Party were due to seek President Thomas Klestil's formal approval on Wednesday for a coalition pact, despite warnings by the European Union and the United States that this would isolate the country internationally.

"I think a Social Democratic minority government with new elections after a certain period would be the best solution," Schloegl told ORF television.

"Voters now know exactly who would form coalitions with whom and that would probably change the voting behaviour of many people in this country."

The proposed centre-right coalition "is a government form which is not wanted by a majority of Austrians," he added.

The European Union has threatened to freeze political contacts with Vienna if Haider's anti-immigrant party enters government. The United States says it will consider similar action.

Schloegl is a strong contender to succeed Klima as Social Democratic leader if the outgoing chancellor decides to give up the party leadership, as many commentators expect him to.

"I think it is unique in Europe for the party with by far the largest number of votes to be excluded from the formation of a government," Schloegl said.

The Social Democrats, who have headed every Austrian government for the last 30 years, lost ground to the Freedom Party in the October 3 election but remained largest party, with 65 seats out of 183 in parliament.

The People's Party and the Freedom Party have 52 each, giving them a comfortable majority, and the Greens have 14.

Asked about polls suggesting the Freedom Party would be the main beneficiary of early elections, possibly overtaking the Social Democrats as largest party, Schloegl replied:

"This would certainly change if it became clear what burden this new government would mean for the Austrian people."-Reuters