Negotiations between the Freedom Party (FPÖ), which secured a majority of votes in Austria’s September elections, and the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) to form a government are struggling, Politico reports.
Earlier, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl said he would abandon coalition talks and try to trigger new elections if the ÖVP did not recognise his party as the main force in the government.
On Tuesday, the ÖVP stated that “the government negotiations are in a difficult phase,” according to party negotiator Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer. However, the FPÖ said in response to media reports that “there is no breakdown of negotiations.”
There is no breakdown of negotiations. The ÖVP is apparently coordinating internally. This is quite normal in negotiations. We also coordinate internally again and again. Tomorrow it can continue.
Previous attempts to form a government without Kickl’s party failed earlier this year. Meanwhile, tens of thousands took to the streets of Vienna to protest against a possible FPÖ-ÖVP government.
