2 weeks ago
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Austria’s president has tasked the anti-migration, pro-Kremlin Freedom party (FPÖ) with holding talks to form a ruling coalition, potentially paving the way for the far right to lead the government for the first time since the second world war.
After meeting the FPÖ leader, Herbert Kickl, at the Hofburg palace in Vienna, Alexander van der Bellen said the party, which narrowly won the most votes in September’s general election, could begin negotiations with the conservative Austrian People’s party (ÖVP) on forming a governing alliance.
“I didn’t take this decision lightly,” said the president, who under the constitution formally names the chancellor. “I will continue to make sure that the principles and rules of our constitution are respected and upheld.”
Months-long negotiations by mainstream parties to form a coalition to block the hard right collapsed at the weekend because of differences on how to revive the ailing Austrian economy.
The chancellor, Karl Nehammer, of the ÖVP announced his intention to resign on Saturday after the talks broke down. He had repeated ruled out becoming junior partner to FPÖ with Kickl as the head of government.
The ÖVP said on Sunday it had nominated its general secretary, Christian Stocker, to act as interim leader. Stocker has expressed his willingness to negotiate with the FPÖ and has received his party’s blessing to do so.
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The failure of the centrist parties to build an effective “firewall” against the FPÖ means Austria could soon join a growing bloc of EU countries led by the far right including Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Hungary.
