Austrian President to Begin Government Formation Talks Amidst Coalition Uncertainty

President Alexander Van der Bellen will initiate discussions with leaders of Austria’s major political parties on Friday, beginning the process of forming a new government following Sunday’s election, Bloomberg reports.

The discussions come amidst heightened uncertainty over the potential coalitions, as no party secured a clear majority.

The President’s office announced on Wednesday that the talks will begin with Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, which emerged victorious in the election. On Monday, Van der Bellen will meet with incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the conservative People’s Party and Andreas Babler, head of the Social Democratic Party.

Despite the Freedom Party’s electoral success, all other major political parties have publicly stated their unwillingness to form a government with Kickl’s involvement. This has fueled speculation about a possible centrist coalition, potentially involving a combination of the People’s Party and Social Democratic Party.

This arrangement, a common occurrence in Austrian politics since World War II, would see the two main traditional parties forming a government. However, coalition negotiations in Austria are often lengthy, typically spanning months rather than weeks. Therefore, it is possible that the current talks could extend into next year.