Coalition drama in Vienna: Kickl returns government mandate!

Coalition drama in Vienna: Kickl returns government mandate!

In a dramatic turning point in Austrian politics, the coalition negotiations between the extreme right FPÖ and the conservative ÖVP ended abruptly on Wednesday afternoon. FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl announced that he covered the government formation order he had received from Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. This happened after a meeting with the temporary ÖVP chairman Christian Stocker in the Hofburg, where the negotiations on government formation were apparently captured in a misunderstanding and political dispute, as the report by Vol.at illustrated.

dispute over ministerial posts escalated

While an agreement was still in sight at the beginning of the talks, the conflict increasingly developed into a farce. Kickl made immovable claims, including control over the Ministry of the Interior, which is considered the key position for local and national security. He also wanted far -reaching access to the protection of the constitution and asylum authorities, which the ÖVP considered unacceptable. This announces that the FPÖ was already having positions and ministries before the discussion about the specific content, which led to a withdrawal of the talks, such as Augsburger Allgemeine reported

These failed negotiations, another setback for political stability in Austria, threw a bright light on the toxic political atmosphere of the country. Kickl's old claims, including the rejection of EU standards and the cancellation of church contributions, were taxed as a provocation. For the ÖVP, there is now only the possibility to conduct new negotiations with the Social Democrats or possibly strive for new elections, while the republic sinks into political chaos.