Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced his resignation following the collapse of coalition talks.
According to Reuters, A rise in Far-right party influence in Europe and internal disputes led Austria’s conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer to resign as the coalition efforts faltered.
The coalition negotiations ceased on Saturday, marking an unsuccessful attempt to form a government three months after the parliamentary elections. The liberal Neos party had previously exited the discussions on Friday, contributing to the breakdown.
President Alexander Van der Bellen had assigned the task of government formation to Chancellor Nehammer following the elections, where the eurosceptic Freedom Party (FPO), known for its favor towards Russia, emerged as the victor with 29% of the votes.
Having firmly rejected any possibility of allying with FPO and its leader Herbert Kickl, Nehammer faced limited options. This previous refusal came despite the FPO’s increased support, which shows them leading in opinion polls by over 10 points against the OVP and SPO.
The potential aftermath of Nehammer's resignation could be Kickl attempting to form a government or the potential for a snap election to be called. However, the viability of such a government faces skepticism, particularly from President Van der Bellen, who has expressed reservations concerning Kickl’s suitability for the chancellorship.
Social Democratic Party (SPO) leader Andreas Babler has pointed fingers at Nehammer’s People's Party for the failed talks, citing disparities concerning pensions and wages. Nehammer, in turn, criticized the SPO for their demands on taxing wealth and inheritance.
Babler has voiced concerns about the risks to democracy if a government led by FPO and OVP under Kickl's chancellorship were to materialize:
Andreas Babler said, "We know what threatens to happen now. An FPO-OVP government with a right-wing extremist chancellor that will endanger our democracy on many points."
Herbert Kickl responded to the criticisms by pointing out the failures of other political leaders and the President in the coalition formation process:
Herbert Kickl criticized, "Nehammer, Babler, and Van der Bellen have also failed. They were the architects of the loser traffic light (coalition) and are now confronted with the ruins of their Kickl prevention strategy."
Kickl also holds President Van der Bellen accountable for the "chaos" and delay this situation has triggered, pressuring the President to take action amidst the governmental disarray.
A meeting of the People's Party leadership followed on Sunday morning to determine Nehammer’s successor. From 2017 to 2019, a coalition between the FPO and OVP disintegrated following a scandal involving the then-FPO leader, showcasing the volatile nature of such alliances.
With the departure of Chancellor Karl Nehammer imminent, Austria stands at a crucial political juncture. The people eagerly await the next steps in what has become a significant turning point in the nation’s contemporary political narrative.
The unfolding scenario underscores a significantly fragmented Austrian political landscape, where coalition building has proven markedly challenging amidst rising far-right influence and pivotal ideological divisions. The prospective political arrangements stand to decisively shape Austria’s path forward, reflecting broader regional dynamics and the contentious nature of its internal political debates.
