Austrian Prime Minister and leader of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), Karl Nehammerhas announced his resignation as head of government and the breakdown of negotiations to form a coalition government with the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPÖ).
Nehammer explained in a video published on social networks that he is resigning as chancellor and also as leader of his party, and has reiterated his refusal to negotiate a government agreement with the far right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and its current leader, Herbert Kickl.
“I have the deep conviction that radicals offer no solution not even a single problem,” he argued, according to Austrian public television, ÖRF.
Meanwhile, SPÖ leader Andreas Babler has attributed Nehammer’s decision to political tactics. “This is not good news for the country. We need more state responsibility and fewer partisan tactics,” he stated.
An ÖVP spokesperson explained that “we have tried everything” in the negotiations with the SPÖ. “It is not possible to reach an agreement on the key points, so it does not make sense to achieve a positive future for Austria,” he argued.
After the September elections, the FPÖ is the main political force of the country with 28.85% support, while the ÖVP has achieved 26.3% and the SPÖ, 21.1%. However, the extreme right has not been able to negotiate with any of the two main traditional parties and now the attempted agreement between SPÖ and ÖVP adding the liberal NEOS has failed.
Polls suggest that if the elections are repeated, the FPÖ will achieve a significant increase in its support up to 35%, although there is also the possibility that FPÖ and ÖVP will negotiate without Nehammer at the helm. The decision depends on the federal president, the environmentalist Alexander Van der Bellenwho has the power to commission the formation of the government.
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