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Agencies

Austria’s conservatives led by Sebastian Kurz have agreed to form an unprecedented coalition government with the Greens, capping almost three months of negotiations.
The polls were triggered after a corruption scandal engulfed Kurz’s far-right ally after just 18 months in government together.
“We have reached an agreement,” Kurz told reporters standing next to Greens leader Werner Kogler on Wednesday.
“We succeeded in uniting the best of both worlds.”
Kogler said the two disparate parties had managed to “build bridges” to form a government for “the future of Austria”.
It will mark the first time the Green party has been in power. The ecologists made key gains in the September polls with the environment replacing immigration as the top voter concern.

The 33-year-old Kurz’s People’s Party embarked on negotiations with the Greens in mid-November, weeks after it emerged as by far the biggest party from an election.
In that vote in September, the Greens saw their support soar and returned to parliament after a two-year absence.
The two parties have a combined 97 seats in Austria’s 183-seat parliament. Kurz’s return to power would see him take back the title of the world’s youngest sitting head of government from new Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who is 34.
Estonia apologises after minister calls Finland PM Sanna Marin a ‘salesgirl’
Analyst Thomas Hofer said other European countries, such as Germany, could also see Conservative-Green party coalitions in the future. Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Luxemburg already have Greens in government.
“Kurz is setting a certain trend maybe ahead of time, and this is certainly something also on the international stage that he would be able to sell,” he said.
Hofer described Kogler, who is expected to be vice-chancellor, as a “pragmatist” who had stabilised the party.

The 58-year-old took on the leadership after the party lost all their parliamentary seats in a shock defeat in 2017, largely due to infighting and splits.
A congress of the party’s almost 280 delegates must still endorse the coalition agreement, but they are expected to do so.
“It’s a historical chance for them,” Hofer said.
As junior coalition partner, the Greens are expected to get four ministries, including an enlarged environment ministry that also comprises infrastructure, traffic, energy and technology, according to a party representative familiar with the negotiations.
Kurz’s People’s Party will maintain control of the rest, including the coveted interior ministry -previously headed by a far-right official and embroiled in scandal - and the finance portfolio.
The far-right Freedom Party - previously riding a wave of populist sentiment seen across Europe - was routed in the polls after the so-called “Ibiza-gate” graft scandal brought down their then-leader and vice-chancellor in May and caused the government to collapse.
For Kurz, regaining the reins of power is also a chance to soften his image after 17 months in coalition with a far right that shared his views on immigration but was also prone to anti-Semitic and xenophobic scandals. Immigration is likely to remain a point of friction with the left-wing Greens.
Agence France-Presse, Reuters


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Austria

Austria’s Sebastian Kurz back in power as world’s youngest leader after reaching coalition deal with Greens

Austrian conservative leader Sebastian Kurz struck a coalition deal on Wednesday with the Greens to ensure his return to power. Photo: DPA

Sebastian Kurz, left, head of the Austrian People's Party, OEVP, and Werner Kogler, right, head of the Austrian Greens speak to journalists during a press conference after finishing the coalition negotiations in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

epa08087936 YEARENDER 2019 DECEMBER Finland's new Prime Minister Sanna Marin arrives for a press conference at Parliament House in Helsinki, Finland, 10 December 2019. Marin is the world's youngest prime minister at the age of 34. EPA-EFE/KIMMO BRANDT

Ibiza affair: Austrian far-right leader quits, snap election announced, after secret camera sting reveals meeting with ‘niece of Russian oligarch’

A still image from a footage shot in Ibiza, Spain in July 2017 that has caused Austrian politician Heinz-Christian Strache to step down as vice chancellor and Freedom Party leader. Der Spiegel and Sueddeutsche Zeitung via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY DER SPIEGEL AND SUEDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG / NO THIRD PARTY RESALE Digital: MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY DER SPIEGEL AND SUEDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG / NO THIRD PARTY RESALE .

Austria's Vice-Chancellor and chairman of the Freedom Party FPOe Heinz-Christian Strache gives a press conference in Vienna on May 18, 2019 after the publication of the "Ibiza - Video" regarding Strache. - Austria's Vice-Chancellor and chairman of the Freedom Party FPOe Heinz-Christian Strache resigns over video scandal. (Photo by HELMUT FOHRINGER / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT

In this video grab made available by SPIEGEL and Sueddeutsche Zeitung on May 18, 2019 shows Heinz-Christian Strache (C), Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Johann Gudenus (L), FPOe party's group leader in parliament during a secretly filmed meeting in Ibiza in 2017. - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced fresh elections after explosive revelations from a hidden camera sting forced his deputy, far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache, to resign, bringing an end to his coalition. (Photo by - / SPIEGEL and Sueddeutsche Zeitung / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SPIEGEL and Sueddeutsche Zeitung" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS NO ARCHIVE

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz ended his controversial coalition with the nationalist Freedom Party after a video compromised his junior partner, seeking a mandate to govern alone in snap elections. Photo: EPA

Meet Finland’s new leader Sanna Marin, 34, who’s about to become world’s youngest PM

Finnish transport minister Sanna Marin, who has been tapped as the country’s new prime minister, attending a press conference in Brussels in September. Photo: Xinhua

Sanna Marin of Finland's Social Democrates talks with her predecessor Antti Rinne (L) after she was elected to the post of Prime Minister in Helsinki, Finland, on December 8, 2019. - Sanna Marin narrowly won the vote to replace outgoing leader Antti Rinne, who resigned on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, after losing the confidence of the coalition partner Centre Party over his handling of a postal strike. (Photo by Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT

Finland's Members of Parliament, Katri Kulmuni (L) and Sanna Marin participate in the A-studio talk show in Helsinki, Finland December 3, 2019. Picture taken December 3, 2019. Lehtikuva/Roni Rekomaa/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. FINLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN FINLAND.

Sebastian Kurz set to take back power as Conservatives look likely to win Austria election amid fall of far-right allies

Sebastian Kurz, leader of Austrian People's Party (OeVP). Photo: AP Photo

The head of Austria's Green party Werner Kogler adresses the audiaence after the first exit polls at his party's electoral evening in Vienna, Austria, on September 29, 2019. - Austria's 33-year-old former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was on course to win snap elections in Austria, despite a scandal which engulfed his previous far-right allies, projections showed on September 29, 2019. (Photo by ALEX HALADA / AFP)

epa07880198 Sebastian Kurz, leader of Austrian People's Party (OeVP) and OeVP top candidate, addresses his supporters at an OeVP election party for the Austrian federal elections in Vienna, Austria, 29 September 2019. Projections published after the polls closed saw the OeVP as the clear winner of the general election. EPA-EFE/CHRISTIAN BRUNA

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Europe

Austria’s ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz swings to left after far-right alliance crumbled
Kurz takes back title of world’s youngest head of government from new Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who is 34


Austria’s main centre-right party and the environmentalist Greens agreed on a coalition deal that will return ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to power.


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Sanna Marin