Efforts to type a authorities: talks a couple of heart authorities in Austria failed | EUROtoday

An excellent three months after the FPÖ’s election victory in Austria, talks a couple of centrist authorities with out the right-wing populists have failed. The conservative ÖVP has ended its talks with the social democratic SPÖ, mentioned Chancellor and ÖVP chief Karl Nehammer. At the identical time, he introduced that he would resign as authorities and get together chief within the coming days. It was solely on Friday that the liberal Neos surprisingly withdrew from negotiations with the ÖVP and SPÖ a couple of visitors gentle coalition after weeks of battle. The two remaining events then continued talks on Saturday afternoon. However, the negotiations ended once more within the night.

Nehammer insists on his rejection of the Kickl-FPÖ

“It is obvious that the destructive forces in the SPÖ have gained the upper hand,” mentioned Nehammer in a video message. The ÖVP is not going to conform to any program that’s anti-business or anti-performance, he emphasised.

At the identical time, Nehammer made it clear that he was nonetheless not ready to carry coalition talks with the right-wing FPÖ below get together chief Herbert Kickl. “It is my deep conviction that radicals do not offer a solution to a single problem,” mentioned Nehammer. The Chancellor had rejected the FPÖ below Kickl’s management, amongst different issues, due to its pro-Russia stance and the dearth of differentiation from right-wing extremist teams such because the Identitarians. The enterprise wing of his get together, nonetheless, prefers a coalition with the FPÖ slightly than with the Social Democrats.

SPÖ chief now fears “right-wing extremist” Chancellor Kickl

In an announcement, SPÖ chief Andreas Babler blamed these forces among the many conservatives for the failure of a doable grand coalition. “The wing that flirted with the Blues from the start has prevailed,” he mentioned, referring to the FPÖ’s get together colour. Now there’s a risk of “a right-wing extremist chancellor,” mentioned Babler. Who will succeed Nehammer was initially simply as unclear because the query of whether or not the ÖVP would now negotiate with the FPÖ as a doable junior accomplice or whether or not new elections can be referred to as.

Rumors about Sebastian Kurz’s comeback

In latest days, Austrian media have introduced ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz into play as a doable new ÖVP chief, citing conservative circles. Kurz dominated as chancellor with the FPÖ from 2017 to 2019 after which with the Greens. He withdrew from politics in 2021 due to corruption investigations in opposition to him. The investigation into the allegations, which Kurz denies, remains to be ongoing. Kurz has not but commented on the rumors a couple of doable comeback. In addition to Kurz, the identify of EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler can also be circulating as Nehammer’s successor.

Pollsters see the FPÖ persevering with to develop

Now the ball is in Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen’s court docket, mentioned FPÖ chief Kickl, with a view to a doable authorities contract that had beforehand been denied him. “He is under pressure after today’s events,” mentioned Kickl. The FPÖ received the election on the finish of September. The three heart events then tried to forge a coalition and maintain the precise out of energy. Van der Bellen would even have most popular such a authorities. If new elections have been to happen, the right-wing populist FPÖ might hope for a superb victory. The newest polls signaled one other huge enhance in votes in comparison with the National Council election. After that, the FPÖ might considerably enhance its outcome from 29 % to round 35 %.