
Party leaders are meeting Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday, as speculation mounts over which parties he will entrust with forming the country’s next government.
Herbert Kickl, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), which made history by winning Austria’s parliamentary elections on September 29, held talks with Van der Bellen on Friday. Read more: Kickl to Van der Bellen: FPÖ is Ready to Lead
Traditionally, the head of state asks the leader of the winning party to form a government, although this isn’t written into the constitution. Van der Bellen has hinted he might not automatically hand the job to Kickl, even if the FPÖ won.
The first to meet Van der Bellen on Monday was Karl Nehammer, Austria’s Chancellor and leader of the People’s Party (ÖVP), which came second after suffering significant losses. He was followed by Andreas Babler, leader of the Social Democrats (SPÖ), the third-largest party.
Both were brief with the media as they left the Hofburg. Nehammer described his meeting as “trusting,” while Babler said he had a “very good discussion” with the President about “the political situation in Austria.” Further statements from both are expected later in the week.
On Tuesday, Van der Bellen will also meet NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Green Party leader Werner Kogler, who is Vice-Chancellor in the outgoing ÖVP-Greens coalition.
That same day, the ÖVP and SPÖ are expected to hold informal talks, though both parties have stressed these won’t be formal coalition negotiations.