Austrian President Snubs Far-Right, Calls for Conservative-Socialist Coalition Talks

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked the ruling conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) with initiating coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), effectively snubbing the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) which emerged as the largest party in recent elections, Bloomberg reports.

This decision, announced Tuesday in Vienna, comes after weeks of tense negotiations among party leaders and the President, with the FPÖ failing to secure a potential coalition partner. Despite winning 29% of the vote in September, the Freedom Party fell short of a parliamentary majority needed to form a government in Austria’s consensus-based political system.

President Van der Bellen emphasized that mandating Chancellor Karl Nehammer to lead the ÖVP-SPÖ negotiations offered the best chance of achieving a stable majority. This decision was met with mixed reactions, with the ÖVP expressing willingness to engage in discussions while the SPÖ remained cautious.

While the FPÖ secured the most votes in the elections, a broad coalition of other parties had vowed not to make their leader, Herbert Kickl, Chancellor. This united front against the FPÖ appears to have swayed President Van der Bellen’s decision.

The negotiations now face a critical question: will a two-party coalition, potentially hinging on a single seat, prove stable enough for government formation, or will a third party be necessary? This crucial decision will likely shape the future direction of Austrian politics.

Chancellor Nehammer is expected to address reporters in Vienna later today, offering further insights into the complex coalition process ahead.