Austria’s Coalition Talks Collapse, Chancellor Steps Down
Talks between Austria’s two main centrist parties, the People’s Party (OVP) and the Social Democrats (SPO), on forming a coalition government without the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) collapsed on Saturday. As a result, Conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced that he would step down.
Nehammer, who had been tasked by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen with forming a government, cited the failure to take bold and decisive action as the reason for his decision. The coalition talks had been ongoing for three months since September’s parliamentary election.
The FPO, which won the election with roughly 29% of the vote, would have needed a coalition partner to govern. However, Nehammer ruled out governing with FPO leader Herbert Kickl, making it unlikely for the party to find a potential coalition partner.
The collapse of the coalition talks leaves two options: either Kickl is tasked with forming a government or a snap election is called. Kickl, who is known for his conspiracy theories, is not an outlier within his party, which overlaps with Nehammer’s party on issues such as immigration.
The leadership of Nehammer’s People’s Party is expected to meet on Sunday to discuss who should succeed him. Whoever takes over is likely to be more open to a coalition with the FPO, which a large portion of the OVP favors.
The FPO has grown in popularity since the last election, holding a lead of more than 10 points over the OVP and the SPO, according to opinion polls. This poses a dilemma for President Van der Bellen, who has expressed reservations about Kickl becoming chancellor.
The collapse of the coalition talks has raised concerns about the stability of Austria’s government, with some warning that an FPO-OVP government with a right-wing extremist chancellor could endanger democracy.