Coalition crisis in Austria: FPÖ gives up government mandate!

Coalition crisis in Austria: FPÖ gives up government mandate!

Dolomitenstadt, Österreich - The tense coalition negotiations between the FPÖ and the ÖVP failed on February 12, 2025. FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl announced in the Hofburg to reject the order for government formation. This happened after a last meeting with ÖVP boss Christian Stocker, who lasted less than an hour and was not successful. The FPÖ blamed the ÖVP, even though it was flexible in many points. Kickl expressed that the ÖVP and its "rush of power" hindered the talks, while Stocker accused the FPÖ not to prove itself as a government partner. According to The daily mail not only due to post disputes, but also to massive ideological differences.

crisis -like negotiations

The conflict between the parties led to an extremely tense climate. Since January, the talks had started behind closed doors after the first three-way coalition between the ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos failed. The tone in the negotiations became increasingly rougher and the basis of trust was not given. A protocol that the daily mail showed that essential issues such as migration policy and the orientation of Austria in the EU were discussed bitterly. The FPÖ made tremendous demands, including control over the Ministry of the Interior and Finance, which the ÖVP rejected as intolerable.

In addition, the FPÖ refused to commit a clear commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights and called for the examination of existing sanctions against Russia. The conflict about these basic political questions ultimately led to the decision to give up government formation. The ÖVP, which fears that the FPÖ will harm its pro-European attitude, has already initiated talks with SPÖ and NEOS about a possible minority government, while the FPÖ general secretary spoke out to bring about new elections.