Politics Election in Austria: How does the Federal President decide?
Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has concluded his bilateral talks with the party leaders on a possible future coalition. The head of state intends to comment on his balance sheet soon.
08.10.2024, 15:45
SDA
Among other things, he will then discuss whether and to whom he will give a mandate to form a government. In Austria, the directly elected Federal President has considerable influence on the composition of the government.
Finally, he consulted with the leader of the liberal Neos party, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, and Werner Kogler of the Greens, who is still Vice-Chancellor. As in the case of the confidential talks with the leaders of the right-wing FPÖ, conservative ÖVP and social-democratic SPÖ, the content of the talks was initially not disclosed.
So far, the front has stood against FPÖ leader Kickl
Ten days ago, the right-wing populists of the FPÖ won the National Council elections for the first time with their best result to date of around 29%. Since then, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl has insisted that as the winner, he should be allowed to take the lead in negotiations with the other parties about a possible coalition. However, all parties have so far stuck to their line of ruling out cooperation with Kickl. The 55-year-old former interior minister has "radicalized", according to the ÖVP, for example.
In addition, there have been at least two exceptions to the rule that the strongest party decides on the future government at federal and state level in Austria. The FPÖ was involved both times.
ÖVP leader Karl Nehammer and SPÖ leader Andreas Babler have since met for an "atmospheric exchange". The positions of the two potential alliance partners are far apart. Babler is a representative of the left wing of the Social Democrats.
