VIENNA, April 17, 2026
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen remains the most trusted political figure in the country, according to the latest APA/OGM "Trust Index" survey, while opposition leaders face deepening public skepticism.
Trust Rankings Show Stability at Top, Decline for Opposition
Van der Bellen, a longtime favorite in Austrian politics, saw his trust score rise by four points to a net balance of 23, maintaining his lead in the survey conducted among 1,015 eligible voters aged 16 and older. The survey, which has a maximum margin of error of 3.1 percentage points in either direction, showed little movement among top-ranking officials. "Der aktuelle APA/OGM-'Vertrauensindex' zeigt gegenüber der jüngsten Erhebung im Jänner keine großen Gewinner und Verlierer," the report noted, indicating no major shifts since January.
Other well-regarded figures include Third National Council President Doris Bures (net +18), Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (+6), and Women's Minister Eva Maria Holzleitner (+5), all members of the SPÖ. However, Holzleitner's score comes with a caveat: only 33% of respondents expressed an opinion about her.
Opposition Leaders Face Steep Declines
The survey delivered grim news for opposition figures, particularly FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl, whose trust score plummeted by six points to -42. He now trails only ÖVP parliamentary leader August Wöginger, who sits at -48 amid ongoing legal pressure from an indictment. SPÖ party leader Andreas Babler also lost ground, dropping two points to -33, though he remains in a stronger position than his right-wing counterparts.