Coalition crisis: NEOS announce collapse of talks!

Coalition crisis: NEOS announce collapse of talks!

The coalition negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS are apparently coming to an end, as the NEOS indicated in a surprising press conference today. After intensive talks on Thursday, in which party leaders Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), Andreas Babler (SPÖ) and Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) spoke about a revised budget and important projects, the question remains open as to whether the negotiations have broken down. According to insiders, this could be imminent. After 96 days since the National Council election, there is still no government contract, which could make the negotiations the longest in Austria's history VOL.AT reported.

The talks late Thursday took place at a secret location and lasted more than seven hours. Despite the strong progress, as of 11 p.m. it was said that there were no concrete results. Another round of negotiations is scheduled for Friday afternoon and there are rumors of a possible agreement this long weekend. The ÖVP is pushing for a quick decision, while the NEOS and SPÖ see more optimistic time frames for the agreement. The budget remains a key point in the negotiations - restructuring without the EU deficit procedure could require massive cuts, which puts emphasis on a socially just solution. Loud The press Representatives of the SPÖ also said that savings should not come at the expense of the economy and the labor market.

Budget issues take center stage

What is particularly controversial is how budget restructuring can be designed in a way that does not penalize the weaker members of society. The SPÖ is calling for an auditable strategy that includes wealth taxes and the taxation of so-called crisis profits, with the focus on the areas that particularly benefited from the crisis, such as the energy and banking sectors. Aid organizations have already expressed their concerns and warned that massive social cuts cannot be a solution. The Diakonie director recently emphasized that investments in long-term care and social infrastructure are more important than ever, as these sectors secure jobs and relieve pressure on health care in times of crisis, according to Anna Parr from Caritas. The negotiators therefore face a significant challenge that must be balanced against different interests.