Nehammer resigns: Political earthquake after coalition collapse!

Nehammer resigns: Political earthquake after coalition collapse!

The political landscape in Austria is upside down! The coalition talks between the ÖVP and the SPÖ failed spectacularly on Saturday evening, January 5th. Chancellor Karl Nehammer from the ÖVP not only broke off the negotiations, but also announced his resignation as Chancellor and ÖVP leader. This happened immediately after a meeting that lasted several hours and was already considered sensitive after the first failed talks on Friday. The SPÖ politicians, like the disappointed Philip Kucher, feel betrayed and cannot believe that Nehammer pressed the stop button on his political career on that fateful evening, while he blamed the failure on the “destructive forces” within the SPÖ the Kleine Zeitung reported.

Nehammer leaves – who follows him?

Just a few minutes after the negotiations broke off, Nehammer released a video in which he officially declared his withdrawal. In this emotional moment, he spoke of the honor of having served the country and announced a proper transition. While the ÖVP committees discuss his successor on Sunday, a large number of possible candidates are up for discussion. According to reports, names such as Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and Sebastian Kurz are being discussed, but the latter could point to new elections as it is believed that Kurz would not be willing to take on a vice-chancellor position under FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. The FPÖ is also watching the developments closely, as an insight into the ÖVP's internal power structure could give the party a boost holding the crown.

Austria's political future remains uncertain. SPÖ leader Andreas Babler criticized the economic influence within the ÖVP, which is seen as the main reason for the failure of the negotiations. While some in the SPÖ are disappointed about the missed opportunity, others like the Burgenland SPÖ see the end of the talks as a liberation. “This unspeakable spectacle is finally over,” they said with relief in their reactions. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will have to provide clarity on his future career on Sunday - an explosive situation that hardly promises a steady hand.