Political tumbling: start talks on government formation in Austria

Political tumbling: start talks on government formation in Austria

Yesterday a decisive chapter was opened in Austrian politics. The talks that were initiated with a serious mission by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen are marked by possible government formation. Herbert Kickl from the FPÖ, Karl Nehammer from the ÖVP and Andreas Babler from the SPÖ are now in exchange to find a solution to the current political patient situation.

The start of the talks begins today, with the FPÖ and the ÖVP coming together. The event is overlaid by tensions that have occurred between the two parties in the last few days. The fronts seem to have hardened after a press statement by Kickl, in which he predictably attacks the leadership of Nehammer and takes the Federal President in the line of fire. All of this happens at a time at which the ÖVP boss has already been referred to as a "great loser", which does not make things easier.

coalition talks and differences

The connection between the parties is a challenge. The ÖVP has explained Klipp and clearly that a coalition with the FPÖ under Herbert Kickl is out of the question for them. Christian Stocker, the general secretary of the ÖVP, unequivocally found that Kickl should not be surprised if no one else wants to rule with him after he has described others as "dictators" and "traitor" in the past. The ÖVP also has the worries of 1.3 million voters in the back of the head that prefer a center-right policy.

A potential bone of contain in the current discourse is the property tax required by the SPÖ. While the talks between the Nehammer and the Babler could possibly be less tense, it remains to be seen whether an agreement is in sight. The differences in the political orientation still seem to be considerable. The last exchange between Kickl and Babler will probably be more of a formal act, since both are pursuing different agendas.

The meeting between the ÖVP and the SPÖ will follow on Wednesday. Here the two parties could actually lead a more fertile dialogue, despite the differences that they still separate. Above all, the political differences could become more and more emphasized in the coming days, and the question remains whether the Federal President will receive concrete feedback from these talks on government formation.

This development is not only important for the parties concerned, but also for the entire political landscape of Austria. Is there an agreement or will the country continue to remain uncertainty? In order to clarify these questions, the political stage will not stay empty.

For more information on the current situation and the developments related to government formation in Austria, See current report www.meinbezirk.at .