The blue-black coalition talks have collapsed. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl submitted his resignation as government negotiator in the afternoon at the Hofburg, as he announced in a statement. This followed a final personal meeting with VP leader Christian Stocker. Kickl held the ÖVP responsible for the failure, stating that they had compromised on many points.
The collapse had been foreseeable at least since the beginning of the week. Last-ditch attempts to reach an agreement on the distribution of ministries had been played out in the media since this morning, which did not necessarily increase the chances of a resolution.
After a phone call between the two party leaders, there was a personal meeting at noon, facilitated by the President. However, this meeting lasted less than an hour and failed to bring any breakthrough.
Kickl Refuses to Work with SPÖ
Kickl then went to the Hofburg and handed over a letter to the Federal President, “not without regret,” explaining why he was stepping down from the task of forming a government, even though a coalition with the SPÖ was mathematically possible. Preliminary talks with SPÖ leader Andreas Babler had shown that not only were the positions far apart on crucial issues, but that the SPÖ also fundamentally rejected any collaboration with the FPÖ.
The FPÖ leader emphasized that they had sought discussions with the ÖVP with the intention of quickly establishing an efficient government following a tight schedule. Together, they had aimed to lead Austria back to the forefront of Europe—”economically strong, socially responsible, and with a migration policy that protects the interests of our country and its people.”
Ministry Posts as a Sticking Point
However, before the outstanding issues could be resolved at the chief negotiators’ level, the ÖVP insisted on resolving the distribution of ministries. On February 4, the Freedom Party had presented a corresponding draft: “Although we made concessions to the ÖVP on many points in the subsequent talks, the negotiations, to our regret, ultimately did not succeed.”
A statement from the Federal President is expected today regarding the next steps, as both the former ÖVP leader Karl Nehammer and now Kickl have failed in forming a government. A renewed attempt at a three-party coalition, a minority government, or a transitional government until a new election, which could take place before the summer, are possible outcomes.
The ÖVP’s preferred option could become clearer in a press briefing later today.
