Austria has formed a governing coalition almost six months after the parliamentary elections. Alongside the centrist Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democrats Party of Austria (SPÖ), the country’s youngest party, the New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS), has joined the coalition for the first time, while the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), which came first in the election, was left out.
Traditionally, the ÖVP or SPÖ get the right to form a government in Austria. That was the case this time, although the FPÖ received the maximum number of votes in last year’s elections (it also came first in the European Parliament elections in the summer). However, in January, coalition talks between the ÖVP and the SPÖ, held with the participation of the NEOS, reached an impasse – first the latter announced its withdrawal, and then the Social Democrats. As a result, on January 6, Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen handed the mandate to form a government to FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl.
This decision led to mass protests, with the national media calling it a wake-up call. The FPÖ, unlike Germany’s Alternative for Germany, is not an unacceptable partner for the national parties – it has been part of ruling coalitions five times already, but its representatives have never headed the cabinet.
On January 9, ÖVP leader Christian Stocker officially accepted Kickl’s invitation to join coalition talks. However, a month later, Kickl announced their termination, citing disagreements. In particular, the ÖVP and FPÖ could not divide the portfolios – the Freedom Party offered the People’s Party the posts of Foreign Minister and Defence Minister, while keeping the post of Chancellor, which the ÖVP did not agree to.
Compromise for all
A compromise could not be reached on the issues of co-operation with NATO and the approach to the EU’s anti-Russian sanctions regime. As Eurosceptics, the FPÖ representatives have repeatedly criticised Brussels’ policy on Ukraine and also advocated the lifting of restrictions against Russia. The centrists, on the other hand, insist on Vienna retaining its status as a “reliable partner of the European Union.”
ÖVP general secretary Alexander Pröll accused Kikl of being unwilling to compromise: he said the FPÖ leader had only been present for seven hours during the five weeks of coalition talks.
“He missed the chance to form a centre-right government. Instead, he insisted on all his demands, developed fantasies of omnipotence and eventually ended the negotiations,” Pröll noted.
Already after their failure, Profil magazine published a draft agreement between the ÖVP and the FPÖ – a 223-page document that, according to the publication, could significantly change Austria.
As a result, Austria suddenly became a good example of how moderate parties can reach a compromise that prevents the need for new early elections in which the FPÖ could have further strengthened its position. Although there are significant differences between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, due to the lack of alternatives they still found common ground. It is to be hoped that the new three-party coalition will avoid the fate of the German traffic light coalition that broke up last November.
