Blue-black coalition on the crossroads: What is behind the negotiating poker?

Blue-black coalition on the crossroads: What is behind the negotiating poker?

Hofburg, Wien, Österreich - In Austria, the coalition negotiations between the FPÖ and the ÖVP are on the brink. After five weeks of intensive discussions, it remains to be seen whether a last-minute cleaning is imminent or the negotiations finally fail. Today at 5 p.m. the party leader Herbert Kickl and Christian Stocker meet with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in the Hofburg, as krone.at reports . The negotiations had recently become increasingly difficult, especially after an interruption, which was caused by different requirements and conflicts between the two parties.

dispute over ministries and political direction

The dispute not only affects the division of the ministries, which is of great importance for both parties, but also more fundamental political questions. FPÖ boss Kickl insists on taking over both the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance, while the ÖVP insists that the Interior Ministry must remain in its hands. These controversial points have already led to speculation about the failure of the talks, since the ÖVP previously declared a coalition with Kickl as intolerable due to its extreme views, such as Zeit.de

Another conflict point is the different attitude of the parties to the European Union; While the FPÖ wants to restrict their influence, the ÖVP sees the advantages of close cooperation. Experts indicate an increasingly precarious situation that is characterized by tense and often heated conversations, the desire for an agreement against the underlying differences. If no agreement is reached, the country could continue to stand without a stable government.