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The failed negotiations for a coalition government in Austria have led to Chancellor Karl Nehammer resigning from his position. The inability to form a government without the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has caused a political crisis in the country.
The discussions between the two largest centrist parties, the People’s Party (OVP) and the Social Democrats (SPO), came to a halt when the liberal Neos party withdrew from the talks. The Neos party cited the lack of bold and decisive action by the other parties as the reason for their departure.
In a video statement, Chancellor Nehammer announced his impending resignation as both chancellor and leader of the People’s Party. He expressed his desire for a smooth transition of power in light of the failed negotiations. The coalition talks between the OVP and the SPO continued without the Neos party, but ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Following the parliamentary election where the far-right FPO gained 29% of the vote, Nehammer faced the challenge of forming a government without them. Despite previous refusals to work with FPO leader Herbert Kickl, the lack of a viable coalition partner left Nehammer in a difficult position.
President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the Greens, tasked Nehammer with the responsibility of establishing a government. However, with the failure of the coalition talks, the options now seem limited. The most likely scenarios are that Kickl will be asked to form a government or that an emergency election will be called due to Nehammer’s impending resignation.
The FPO’s rise in popularity is evident in opinion polls, showing a significant lead over both the OVP and the SPO. The party’s stance on Russia and its Eurosceptic views have resonated with a portion of the Austrian population, leading to increased support.
The collapse of the negotiations was confirmed by SPO leader Andreas Babler at a news conference. The inability of the centrist parties to come to an agreement has created uncertainty in Austrian politics, with the future of the government hanging in the balance.
The resignation of Chancellor Nehammer has left many questioning the stability of the Austrian government and the direction the country will take in the coming months. With the FPO’s growing influence and the failure to establish a coalition without them, Austria faces a challenging political landscape ahead.
