Austria in the crisis: Chancellor Nehammer resigns - what now?

After the failure of the government negotiations in Austria, Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced his resignation. This is followed by the failed coalition talks between the conservative ÖVP and the SPÖ, which have taken place in the past few weeks. The NEOS had withdrawn their participation in the negotiations, which continued the situation.

The talks between the ÖVP and the SPÖ had failed due to different ideas for the boosting of the economy and the budget situation. Nehammer explained that an agreement was not possible in essential points. He will withdraw from his posts in the coming days, as daily news reported.

political developments according to Nehammer's resignation

Boss of the FPÖ, Herbert Kickl, places the chancellor's claim, which would make the ÖVP a junior partner in a possible coalition. The ÖVP could now choose a new party leader who could consider working with the FPÖ because the party's economic wing prefers such an option. Opinion researchers expect the FPÖ to increase their number of votes even in given new elections. In the last parliamentary election in September, the FPÖ became the strongest force with 28.85%, followed by the ÖVP with 26.3% and the SPÖ with 21.1%.

Nehammer rejected a coalition with the FPÖ, while among the members of the ÖVP speculation about a possible return of ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz are circulating to the party leadership, despite ongoing corruption investigation against him. Other possible successors are Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, the Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce, and EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler, who, however, announced that he wanted to withdraw from top politics. radio Bielefeld also reported on the developments and the possible effects Landscape in Austria.