The Freedom Party (FPÖ) has presented another offer to its counterpart, the ÖVP, regarding the distribution of ministerial posts in the coalition negotiations. The document, which was obtained by APA, includes some small concessions, but the Freedom Party is still insisting on retaining both the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance. The party confirmed the existence of the document upon request, stating that it had been presented during a meeting between the party leaders on Tuesday.

According to the Freedom Party’s new proposal, they would hold six ministries in a blue-turquoise government: In addition to the Chancellor’s office itself and the Chancellery (which includes areas like constitutional law, deregulation, media, and digitalization), they would also retain the Interior and Finance Ministries, which the ÖVP is also eyeing. Additionally, a new Ministry of Labor, which would also encompass integration, is part of the proposal. Furthermore, there would be a Ministry for Health, Sports, and Tourism.

Under the Freedom Party’s proposal, the ÖVP would receive seven ministries: Foreign Policy including the EU, Transport and Infrastructure, Economy, Research and Energy, National Defense and Public Service, Agriculture, and Environment. A new addition to the ÖVP’s portfolio is the Social Affairs Ministry, which would now also include Women, Family, and Youth. Additionally, Education, Science, Art, and Culture would also go to the ÖVP. The Ministry of Justice would be filled by an independent candidate or a candidate supported by the FPÖ.

“This is the Freedom Party’s offer,” confirmed the party’s Secretary-General Michael Schnedlitz, confirming the content of the document that was delivered to ÖVP leader Stocker. With such an arrangement, the ÖVP would be able to “act in all its core competencies.” For example, the ÖVP would take on all matters related to location policy. Given the proposal, “it seems likely that the FPÖ would in return claim its core competencies—security and asylum—currently under the Ministry of the Interior.”