Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has announced he will resign in the coming days after coalition talks between his Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democrats (SPÖ) collapsed.
The conservative ÖVP and center-left SPÖ had been engaged in negotiations aimed at forming a coalition government without the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).
“The People’s Party is sticking to its promises: We will not agree to economically damaging, anti-growth policies or new taxes,” he insisted, accusing the Social Democrats of being too radical.
The far-right FPÖ, a party of pro-Russian Eurosceptics, emerged from parliamentary elections in September as the largest party with 29%.
The EU Commission has said that Vienna must save between €18 billion to €24 billion ($18.56 billion to $24.75 billion).
In the days following the breakdown of coalition negotiations between his Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democrats (SPÖ), Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced his resignation.
In a video statement posted on social media, Nehammer declared, “I will step down as chancellor and as leader of the People’s Party in the coming days and enable an orderly transition.”.
The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) had been excluded from talks to form a coalition government with the center-left SPÖ and the conservative ÖVP.
Already on Friday, the liberal NEOS party pulled out of the negotiations.
In December 2021, Nehammer was appointed chancellor. “We have negotiated long and hard [but] an agreement with the SPÖ on key points is not possible,” he said.
He urged, “The People’s Party is sticking to its promises: We will not agree to economically damaging, anti-growth policies or new taxes,” and charged that the Social Democrats were too radical.
He asserted, “It is clear that the destructive forces within the SPÖ have taken control.”. “I firmly believe that radicals don’t have any answers for any issues. As a result, we will no longer be negotiating with the SPÖ. “.”.
Adreas Babler, the head of SPÖ, accused the ÖVP of engaging in political games of a tactical nature.
When Babler said, “We know what threatens to happen now,”. On many levels, an FPÖ-ÖVP government led by a right-wing extremist chancellor will jeopardize our democracy. “..”.
What comes next in Austria?
The largest party, with 29 percent, was the far-right FPÖ, a group of pro-Russian Euroskeptics, which won parliamentary elections in September. Due to the refusal of other parties to form a coalition with them, it has been unable to form a government.
However, the ÖVP’s neoliberal pro-business faction might think about forming a coalition with the FPÖ after Nehammer resigned. However, the choice of the party’s new leader will have a significant impact.
Although there is a chance for new elections, the dissolution of what the far-right party called a “coalition of losers” could allow the FPÖ to increase its lead even more. “.”.
Any party that takes power in Austria will have to deal with a number of issues, such as a recessionary economy, growing unemployment, and a budget deficit of 3.7 percent of GDP, which is higher than the EU’s 3 percent cap.
Vienna is required to save between €18 billion and €24 billion ($18.56 billion and $24.75 billion), according to the EU Commission.
mf/sms (AP, Reuters, DPA).
