In Austria, the coalition negotiations between the right FPÖ and the conservative ÖVP failed. This was announced by FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl after a meeting with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna. He returned the government order. In the event of an agreement, a Chancellor from the FPÖ ranks would have moved into the Chancellery for the first time with the extremely right kick.
Kickl and the ÖVP chairman Christian Stocker could not agree on the formation of a government coalition. The parties had argued primarily about the distribution of the ministries because both sides wanted to take over the Interior and Finance Ministry. Although the ÖVP FPÖ had accommodated in many points, “the negotiations to our regret were ultimately not crowned success,” said Kickl’s letter to the head of state.
On Tuesday, van der Bellen had called for a quick clarity whether the government talks were canceled or continued. The parties had hardly made any progress in fundamental questions. There were big differences in foreign policy, for example. The FPÖ is against further support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. It is also extremely EU-critical, the ÖVP, on the other hand, convinces of the advantages of the European Union.
Overall, it became clear in the about four weeks of discussions that both parties had a different worldview. While the ÖVP relies on the close international integration of the small Alpine Republic, the FPÖ had repeatedly propagated its slogan from the “Fortress Austria”. ÖVP boss Stocker had asked the FPÖ to move from far right to the political center in view of the new responsibility. The atmosphere between the FPÖ and ÖVP has become increasingly tense in the course of the negotiations.
New election? New start for a triple coalition? Or an expert government?
The search for a new Austrian government has not been completed months after the election at the end of September. Before the talks between the FPÖ and ÖVP burst, negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and the liberal Neos had failed. The latter two parties recently campaigned massively for a second attempt from triple coalition talks with the ÖVP.
Another possible variant are new elections. The FPÖ would not have to fear this. After their victory in the parliamentary elections, just under 29 percent could now expect around 34 percent according to surveys. As an alternative to new elections, the establishment of an expert or transitional government by Federal President van der Bellen would also be conceivable.
Until the formation of a new government, the previous ministers from ÖVP and Greens under transition Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) remain in office.
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