Vienna, Feb 13, (dpa/GNA) – Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, has urged a greater spirit of compromise, after coalition talks between the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) collapsed.
“Compromise has fallen into disrepute,” Van der Bellen said on Wednesday. He said this “Austrian recipe for success” is essential, and called on the parliamentary parties to focus on the good of the state.
Van der Bellen will meet with representatives from the country’s political parties in the next few days, to explore what options are available to resolve the political impasse.
The head of state listed several possible options for resolving the current situation: new elections in a few months, a new minority government tolerated by parliament, or a government of experts.
Van der Bellen did not rule out the possibility that the parties might still be able to agree on a viable coalition, in another attempt at coalition talks.
The FPÖ had won the parliamentary elections in the autumn of 2024. An initial attempt to form a three-way coalition between the ÖVP, the social democratic SPÖ and the liberal NEOS had failed.
After that, the ÖVP declared talks with the SPÖ to be futile. As a consequence, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl was tasked with forming a government in January. Those talks broke down earlier Wednesday.
GNA