Negotiations about the Austrian coalition collapses, prevents, for now, the extreme right chancellor
The efforts of the head of the Austrian Party for Freedom to form a coalition government crashed on Wednesday, ending, so far, its chances of leading the first extremely right -wing national government in the country since World War II.
Freedom party leader, Herbert Kickl and the Conservative Austrian Party have not reached an agreement on the formation of the coalition, leaving the country without a government or a clear answer about what will happen next.
Mr. Kickl’s party won 29 percent of the vote when the Austrians went to the polls in September. But four months after that vote and numerous circles of negotiations, Austrian politicians were not able to form a government.
Initially, three centrist parties tried to form a coalition that would keep the party out of the Government for freedom. This effort failed earlier this year, when the liberal and conservative parties, including the People’s Party, could not conclude an agreement.
The latest conversations between the People’s Party and the Freedom Party collapsed on Wednesday because of the disagreements of politics on migration and national security. Mr. Kickl’s party sought to control the Ministry of the Interior to help encourage its anti-migrant program. But the National Party was afraid, fearing that foreign intelligence agencies would stop cooperating with the Ministry, which also controls the Austrian intelligence agency if it is seen that it is too right.
“Herbert Kickl has received the most votes, but it does not justify his takeover of all power,” said Christian Stocker, the chairman of the People’s Party, after the conversations demolished.
It remains unclear what will come next. The Austrian President, Alexander Van der Bellen, said on Wednesday that he would talk to political leaders to look for the way forward.
“Liberal democracy succeeds in compromise, balanced by different interests,” said Mr. Van der Bellen. “This is the only way that society can remain stable in the long run and be successful.”
Two smaller parties – Liberal Neo and SPö, Social Democratic Party, which were part of earlier conversations – they hinted at their willingness to try to create a government with conservatives, but Mr. Van der Bellen could also decide to try to form and the government cares to lead the country until They maintain early elections.
This option would use Mr. Kicklu and the Freedom party, whose popularity has increased from last year’s elections, the polls say.
