Austrian President Heinz Fischer has criticized the coalition government over internal jostling though remains optimistic over its forthcoming reorganization, he said during an interview Saturday.

Talking to the "Im Journal zu Gast" radio program from public broadcaster ORF, Fischer said both the Social Democratic Party (SPOe) and the People's Party (OeVP) had in the past not addressed important points of their government program quickly enough and communicated too little of their plans to the outside.

He said, however, that first contact between new OeVP leader and Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner and SPOe leader and Chancellor Werner Faymann was positive, and that he was confident Mitterlehner would invest enough energy in a restart of the coalition government.

He added that Austria is a "beautiful country, with many opportunities and requirements," something that should not be lost amidst "strife, anger, and individual mistakes."

Fischer also declared his continued support for the current coalition, saying alternative coalitions that included minor parties would lead to loss of political stability.

Spokespersons from opposition parties the Freedom Party and Team Stronach later on Saturday criticized Fischer's comments, in particular calling into question his impartiality and neutrality in recommending against coalition government alternatives.