Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen has taken an unprecedented step, asking incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer to form a new government despite the fact that Nehammer’s party, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), did not win the most votes in the recent election, The Associated Press reports.
This decision comes after a political stalemate emerged, with all other parties refusing to work with the Freedom Party (FPÖ), which secured its first-ever electoral victory last month.
The FPÖ, led by Herbert Kickl, won 28.8% of the vote, surpassing Nehammer’s ÖVP with 26.3%. However, the ÖVP has ruled out forming a coalition with the FPÖ under Kickl’s leadership, citing concerns about his political stance. The other three parties in the new parliament, including the Social Democrats (SPÖ), the Greens, and the liberal Neos, have also declared their unwillingness to work with the FPÖ.
Traditionally, the president asks the leader of the strongest party to form a government. This time, however, the president opted for a different approach, recognizing the highly fragmented political landscape.
The ÖVP and SPÖ, if they form a coalition, would have a narrow majority in the parliament with 92 out of 183 seats. However, many analysts believe this majority would be too fragile to ensure a stable government. As such, the president has urged clarity on whether a third partner, most likely the Neos, would be needed.
Kickl, in a statement on Instagram, expressed his disappointment with the president’s decision, calling it a “slap in the face.” However, he maintained that the FPÖ’s position remains unchanged: they will only join a coalition government with him as chancellor.
