Vienna is likely to continue being governed by a red-pink coalition. Mayor Michael Ludwig announced Monday that the SPÖ has decided to enter formal coalition talks with the NEOS. Last week, the SPÖ had held exploratory talks with the Greens and the ÖVP. The FPÖ had already been ruled out as a potential partner before the election. Ludwig aims to conclude negotiations within three weeks.
Negotiations will begin tomorrow, Tuesday morning, according to Ludwig. While the three-week time frame is ambitious, an extra week would not be a problem, he said. The goal is to quickly establish the structure of the city and regional government. NEOS Vice Mayor Bettina Emmerling called the SPÖ’s decision a “good message for Vienna.”
NEOS education minister Christoph Wiederkehr will play a leading role in the talks, as he is also the party’s Vienna chair. Ludwig will announce his negotiation team at Tuesday’s first meeting. He said there would be no surprises and that experienced officials currently in office would be involved. Ludwig was accompanied by party secretary Barbara Novak and parliamentary group leader Josef Taucher.
SPÖ Leadership Endorses NEOS Talks
The SPÖ’s executive committee unanimously backed the decision to negotiate with NEOS, with only one dissenting vote in the broader party board. Ludwig described it as a continuation of a “well-functioning progressive coalition.” He said he still intends to collaborate with the Greens and the ÖVP on specific issues, as both exploratory talks were cooperative and constructive.
A key reason for choosing NEOS was the positive working relationship over the past five years. While the two parties didn’t always agree, they presented a united front, which provided stability. Emmerling said the coalition had established a “new political style.” The fact that NEOS gained votes in the election as a junior coalition partner proves their effectiveness, Ludwig added.
NEOS Likely to Keep Education Portfolio
Asked whether NEOS would retain the education department, Ludwig said he expected they would be interested. Emmerling was noncommittal but emphasized that education reforms require long-term effort and continuity.
Ludwig named healthcare expansion, stronger German language support in schools, and increased safety measures, including a possible weapons ban, as key priorities.
Opposition Criticism
The Greens’ leadership duo, Judith Pühringer and Peter Kraus, criticized the decision, calling it a continuation of “timid and uninspired” politics. They argued that voters had expressed a desire for climate protection and social justice and pledged to continue offering constructive ideas as an opposition force.
The ÖVP expressed disappointment with the SPÖ’s decision, stating that after 20 years of “left-dominated stagnation,” the party was choosing more of the same rather than a centrist path. New party leader Markus Figl said the NEOS were merely being used to secure a majority and not as a counterbalance. The ÖVP, he claimed, would remain the leading opposition voice.
FPÖ Vienna leader Dominik Nepp predicted five more “bad years” for the city under the renewed coalition. Citing Vienna’s dire financial situation, he said residents could expect cuts and new burdens, as seen at the federal level. He positioned the FPÖ as the only effective opposition force.
