Talks between the three parties—the conservatives, the social democrats, and the liberals—to form a viable coalition government and keep the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) isolated were concluded today before the afternoon, and now the parties will begin negotiations for the ministries. Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the conservative People’s Party leader, announced the positive conclusion of the talks in a post on X.
“We have concluded the exploratory talks today and will formally begin government negotiations with the @SPOE_at and the @neos_eu. Our country needs change and new paths in key policy areas—a consistent migration policy, an economic policy that leads to growth and a performance-based society. There is still a long way to go to form a government; we are ready to work honestly and seriously on a coalition of reason, a coalition with the people, supported by a stable parliamentary majority in the political centre,” the Chancellor wrote.
On 23 October, Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen charged Chancellor Nehammer with forming the country’s new government. The goal was to create a stable government and close the door to any cooperation with the far-right FPÖ, which topped the polls in last month’s general election. The EU-averse, Moscow-sympathetic FPÖ’s 29% of the vote, its best-ever performance, left it well short of the margin needed to form a government on its own. In the 183-seat National Council (Parliament), 92 seats are required to achieve a majority. However, other parties ruled out joining an FPÖ-led coalition.
Chancellor Nehammer started discussions with the Social Democrats (SPÖ). However, they hold only 92 seats (51 for the Conservatives and 41 for the Social Democrats), indicating that a third partner is necessary to secure a more stable majority.
Thus, the Chancellor invited the liberal NEOS party, which obtained 9,1% and won 18 seats. On 12 November, Karl Nehammer said in a joint news conference with SPÖ leader Andreas Babler that NEOS announced its decision to join the coalition talks.
“Today we have concluded the exploratory talks and I, together with @karlnehammer and @BMeinl announced the start of the government negotiations. As the SPÖ, we are committed to strong cooperation and a smart and fair economic and budget policy so that a coalition of constructive forces can become a reality. It is about finding solutions to pressing issues such as inflation, migration, health and climate – embedded in a necessary economic recovery,” the social democrat leader posted on X.
Similarly, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, the federal chairwoman of NEOS and club chairwoman in the Austrian National Council, said her party accepted being part of a coalition government aiming to offer the country a government that can promote reforms.
“! Today@karlnehammer @AndiBabler and I agreed to enter into government negotiations to create an alliance of constructive forces for reform and recovery. We are daring to do something new, not because we have to, but because we want to and because people expect solutions,” Beate Meinl-Reisinger wrote on X.
