Loser of Austrian election to try to form government after parties shun far right

Austria’s president has assigned the incumbent chancellor the task of forming a new government following the far-right Freedom Party’s (FPÖ) inability to secure a coalition partner after winning the general election. In a recent statement to reporters, President Alexander Van der Bellen, aged 80, announced that he has requested Karl Nehammer, the head of the center-right People’s Party (ÖVP), to initiate talks with the center-left Social Democrats (SPÖ).

“Austria needs a stable government with integrity that is able to act,” Van der Bellen said, highlighting his uncommon decision to ask the losing party to lead coalition discussions. The ÖVP has been in power since 2021 alongside the Greens, but both parties faced significant losses in the September 29 election. The Eurosceptic and pro-Moscow FPÖ experienced a surge in support, claiming 29% of the vote amid widespread voter discontent surrounding immigration and inflation.

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl asserted that his party should be given the opportunity to form a government, given their first-place finish, while the ÖVP garnered 26% and the SPÖ fell to a record low of 21%. However, all mainstream parties in parliament have declined to collaborate with Kickl for the chancellorship, leading to a deadlock in the nation, which holds significant influence in the EU due to its strategic location and alliances.

“Herbert Kickl can’t find a coalition partner to make him chancellor,” stated Van der Bellen, who has previously voiced his opposition to far-right politics. Nehammer, who had not ruled out working with the FPÖ during the campaign, announced this month that he would not support Kickl’s ambitions. Kickl, who looks to Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s autocratic leader, as an inspiration, indicated that his party would only join a coalition if he became chancellor.

Controversy surrounds Kickl, who is campaigning to become “Volkskanzler” (people’s chancellor), a phrase historically associated with Adolf Hitler. The FPÖ, established in the 1950s by former Nazis, is pushing for “remigration,” or the forced deportation of immigrants deemed poorly integrated. Additionally, the party has called for an end to western support for Ukraine against Russia and for lifting EU sanctions on Moscow.

In a brief address at Vienna’s Hofburg palace, Van der Bellen noted that leaders from the ÖVP and SPÖ expressed concerns over the implications for Austria’s democracy and rule of law under any administration involving the FPÖ, as well as its ties to pro-Kremlin stances and right-wing extremists.

Together, the ÖVP and SPÖ would hold a slim majority in parliament. They are likely to consider inviting a third party, potentially the liberal NEOS, which gained 9% of the vote, to the coalition discussions to establish a more stable government.

Nehammer emphasized his desire for a government backed by a “broad parliamentary majority,” stating on X that “politics can only regain trust when we act responsibly and keep our word.” He acknowledged that the election results did not mandate “business as usual,” and he expressed the need for changes and reforms to navigate future challenges effectively. He also indicated his intention to enter negotiations with the goal of addressing the concerns of all citizens in Austria.

However, the struggles of Germany’s first-ever three-way coalition under Chancellor Olaf Scholz, marred by infighting, serve as a cautionary tale for Austria’s smaller neighbor. By January, Van der Bellen is expected to announce the next chancellor of Austria.