Austria's ruling coalition of conservatives and Greens faced potential collapse on Monday when a minister acted independently to sway the European Union towards favouring a nature restoration law.

However, the alliance will continue, albeit with difficulties.

Green Party's Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler defied objections from the conservatives by single-handedly altering Austria's stance at the last minute. She cast Austria's vote in favour of the EU's key policy aimed at restoring nature, during a meeting of environmental ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer and his conservative People's Party (OVP) were infuriated by Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler's actions, Reuters reports.

They argued that Gewessler was legally obligated to seek approval from the OVP-led Agriculture Ministry, which shares responsibility for the issue. The OVP strongly opposes the nature restoration law. 

“The Green coalition partner has shown its true face. On the one hand it is endlessly pontificating. On the other, it is prepared to put ideology before the constitution and the law,” Nehammer said during a news conference in Brussels.

The coalition partners have previously clashed on contentious issues such as immigration, but this latest incident has intensified tensions significantly.

The OVP announced its intention to file a criminal complaint against Gewessler for abuse of power and pursue a legal challenge in the European Court of Justice to overturn Monday's decision. In response, Gewessler maintained that the law supported her actions in endorsing the nature restoration law.

“With such flagrant misconduct by a minister belonging to a coalition partner, the coalition should be ended,” Nehammer said, going on to add: “I will not do that.”

The coalition has already scheduled a parliamentary election for 29th September, marking the end of the current five-year parliament. Despite the improbability of altering this date, Nehammer stressed his priority of maintaining effective governance in the months leading up to the election.

“We still have a lot to do. Now is not the time for barbs or disputes. It is the time to act,” Greens leader Werner Kogler told a news conference.