the far right in charge of negotiations to form a government

The Federal President of the Austrian Republic, Alexander Van der Bellen, announced on Monday January 6 that he had instructed the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ, far right), led by Herbert Kickl, to form a government after the failure of the negotiations between conservatives, social democrats and liberals.

In view of “the new situation (…)I loaded » Mr. Kickl, whose party came first in the legislative elections at the end of September with nearly 29% of the votes, to lead discussions, declared the head of state, adding that he had not “it wasn’t easy to take” such a decision. If the talks are successful, and the FPÖ obtains the post of chancellor, it would be the first time since 1945 that a representative of a party founded by former Nazis would reach the most important post in Austrian institutions.

The Alpine country, a member of the European Union (EU), plunged into political uncertainty on Saturday when conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer ended talks aimed at forming a centrist government excluding the far right. In the process, Mr. Nehammer announced that he would resign “in the coming days” from his post as chancellor and the presidency of the People's Party (ÖVP, conservatives), promising “an orderly transition”. He has held both positions since the end of 2021.

The president's decision comes after a political about-face by Austrian conservatives, who declared on Sunday that they were ready to begin negotiations with the far right in order to form a new government, after the failure of coalition discussions with the liberals and the social democrats.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the Hofburg Palace, the seat of the presidency, on Monday, shouting “Nazis outside”.

“A new path”

At a meeting of ÖVP leaders on Sunday, the movement's general secretary, Christian Stocker, was named interim party leader. Mr Stocker said he had been authorized by his party to begin coalition negotiations with the far right. “This country needs a stable government today, and we cannot continue to waste time that we do not have on campaigns or elections”he added.

Shortly before, the Austrian president had announced that he was going to meet Herbert Kickl on Monday morning, to “discuss the new situation”. “The voices within the ÖVP which ruled out working with [M.] Kickl have become much more discreetthe president told the press. This means that a new path has opened up that did not exist before. »

During a press conference, Mr. Stocker welcomed the president's decision to discuss with the far-right leader, whose party had gathered almost 29% of the votes in the legislative elections but who until then had not not found partners to form a government.

The Austrian president had initially asked the conservatives to form a stable government that respected the “foundations of our liberal democracy”. In the past, he has several times expressed reservations towards Mr. Kickl, whose party is given 35% in the latest polls.

In a press release, the leader of the far-right party described Saturday as « losers » the parties involved in the coalition discussions. “Instead of stability we have chaos” after three “wasted months”he added.

The conservatives of the ÖVP came in second place in the legislative elections with 26% of the votes, followed by the social democrats (SPÖ, center left) at 21%. The ÖVP has participated in the various governments of the country of 9 million inhabitants since 1987. It has already governed twice with the FPÖ, minority partner, in 2000 and in 2017.