Nehammer’s resignation
Federal President van der Bellen announces Austria’s interim chancellor
The coalition talks in Austria have collapsed. Chancellor Karl Nehammer therefore resigned from his office. And who will govern the country until the new government is in place?
Austria’s Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will announce the name of an interim chancellor on Wednesday. This should continue the current coalition of Conservatives and Greens until a new government is formed.
The previous Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) announced his resignation at the weekend after his efforts to form a coalition of centrist parties failed. He will formally resign on Friday. His interim successor is to be sworn in on the same day.
The party leader of the right-wing FPÖ, Herbert Kickl, has already been commissioned to negotiate the new government coalition. He has announced talks with the ÖVP about this. The FPÖ became the strongest force in the elections in September.
FPÖ leader Kickl admonishes the interlocutor
Before the start of coalition negotiations in Austria with the conservative ÖVP, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl set key conditions for the ÖVP. “No games, no tricks, no sabotage, no cross-talk,” warned the right-wing populist at his first press conference after being tasked with forming a government. It is important to restore people’s trust in politics in general. With hard work, honesty and courage, it would be possible to create a spirit of optimism in the country.
Kickl demanded that the ÖVP admit that it was to blame for the current problems. “This includes understanding who is responsible for the mistakes of the past that have brought our country into a very, very difficult and challenging situation.”
If the ÖVP did not follow his criteria, he blatantly threatened new elections.” According to surveys, the right-wing populists have once again significantly increased their gap to the ÖVP and the social democratic SPÖ compared to the parliamentary election 100 days ago.
Stumbling blocks for the ÖVP and FPÖ coalition
Experts assume that the coalition talks will only last weeks and not months. In view of the severe economic crisis, it is essential that a government capable of acting is installed as soon as possible.
Kickl, Meloni, Wilders: These right-wingers are already (co-governing)
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Even if the signs are favorable for a successful conclusion of alliance talks between the FPÖ and ÖVP, there are obstacles. These include the discrepancies in security, foreign and EU policy.
Differing opinions between the two parties could, if necessary, be overcome, at least declaratively, by a preamble in the coalition agreement. An example of this is the first ÖVP-FPÖ coalition at the beginning of the millennium under the then ÖVP Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel.
DPA
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
