Attempt to form Austria’s first government led by far-right collapses
Austria’s president now faces the task of deciding on a new path forward, including a snap election
Talks to form Austria’s first coalition government led by the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) collapsed on Wednesday, days after the FPO’s negotiations with the conservative People’s Party (OVP) ground to a halt, with each side blaming the other.
The Eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO was bidding to head a government for the first time since it was founded in the 1950s under a leader who had been a prominent Nazi.
The FPO came first in September’s parliamentary election with around 29 per cent but was only tasked with forming a government last month once a centrist attempt to do so without it failed. The OVP was its only potential coalition partner.
“Just now, FPO leader … Herbert Kickl informed President Alexander Van der Bellen that the coalition talks with the OVP have failed,” the FPO said in a statement moments after Kickl met Van der Bellen in the president’s office.
The FPO quickly called for a snap election, which polls suggest would increase its lead over other parties, but the ball was now in Van der Bellen’s court.
In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening, he said there were four options: a snap election, which cannot be held sooner than in about three months; a minority government; a fresh stab at forming a coalition that could command a majority; or a temporary government of experts.