Austria abashed at feuding leaders

Chancellor Schuessel: Opponents say row is a "state operetta"

VIENNA, Austria -- Austrians have declared themselves confused and embarrassed after an unseemly jostling for power between the country's top three leaders.

No less than three Austrian politicians have been vying for the position of the country's No.1 representative abroad amid media complaints of "a Viennese soap opera."

Newspapers rounded on the three after each of them visited Egypt separately within a month, even visiting the same officials.

The rivalry is principally between President Thomas Klestil and Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, with Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner playing a supporting role.

The one-upmanship battle has seen what the Associated Press says is the three "racing" to various countries to get there first evoking "public angst over Austria becoming a European laughing stock."

"Klestil, Schuessel, Ferrero: This is how they embarrass us abroad," complained a headline in the mass-circulation daily Kronen Zeitung, focusing on the visits to Cairo between September 25 and October 24 in which the three met -- each individually -- with the same Egyptian dignitaries.

Ferrero-Waldner has made 36 overseas visits this year. This contrasts with the foreign minister of neighbouring Switzerland -- about the same size as Austria -- who has made 15 foreign forays, reported AP.

"Jealousy is their travel companion," commented the respected German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

The rivalry has led to Schuessel suggesting that Klestil's wife, senior Austrian diplomat Margot Klestil-Loeffler, had passed on to her husband confidential foreign ministry information about Ferrero-Waldner's travel plans.

When Schuessel raised the allegation on state television, an angry Klestil-Loeffler promptly phoned with a live on-the-air denial.

A leaked report allegedly written by a senior diplomat for the president compounded the disagreement. It claimed Schuessel "had no clue about foreign policy" and had insulted foreign guests with his "improper behaviour."

Schuessel, a former foreign minister, prides himself on his international acumen and wants to see Ferrero-Waldner replace Klestil when the president's term ends in 2004.

As chancellor -- the equivalent of prime minister -- Schuessel considers the presidency a mostly ceremonial position, much like that of Britain's queen. But Klestil, a former ambassador to Washington, insists his job is more than cutting ribbons and awarding medals.

The two men's mutual distaste was born of Schuessel's decision to form a coalition with the rightist Freedom Party, a move the president opposed as hurting Austria's image.

Political scientist Ferdinand Karlhofer, sees the "ridiculous conflict" as reminiscent of Imperial Austria's court intrigues. Alfred Gusenbauer, head of the opposition Social Democratic Party, calls it a "state operetta."

The public complaints and biting newspaper commentaries finally had some effect. The four principal players-- Klestil, his wife, Schuessel and Ferrero-Waldner -- were all smiles at a recent evening reception meant to demonstrate their public reconciliation.

But many Austrians doubt the conflict is really over.

"Both sides have seen that the affair is not to their advantage, but -- considering the personalities and issues involved -- the tensions are not solvable," said Karlhofer, the political scientist.

"If one of the two can do any harm to the other, he will."