Blue and black burst

Head of the Chamber of Commerce: “There were too many red lines”

Salzburg's Deputy Governor Marlene Svazek (FPÖ) is disappointed.

(Bild: Markus Tschepp)

The blue-black coalition negotiations have failed. On Wednesday, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl resigned his mandate to form a government. Salzburg's FPÖ leader Marlene Svazek is disappointed. Governor Wilfried Haslauer holds Herbert Kickl responsible.

"I am very disappointed and, as someone who has negotiated a lot of good things for rural areas, it is also frustrating. The negotiations were always about the well-being of Austria and its people. But I am also sorry about the situation because first and foremost the population is suffering and trust in politics will continue to decline," said Salzburg FPÖ leader Marlene Svazek on the collapse of the coalition negotiations. She herself sat at the negotiating table for the Freedom Party. Together with the ÖVP, she forms the state government in Salzburg.

Salzburg's Governor Wilfried Haslauer criticizes Kickl.

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

Salzburg's Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) takes note of the end of the coalition negotiations. "In view of the immense challenges facing Austria, our country would have needed a stable government capable of acting quickly and the Austrian People's Party has faced up to these talks with honest effort and despite great criticism," explains Haslauer.

He holds Herbert Kickl responsible: "At the end of the day, joint and solution-oriented negotiations must always be characterized by a willingness to approach the other party and not be limited to pushing through one's own ideas. Obviously, this was not possible with Herbert Kickl."

Peter Buchmüller, President of the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER / APA / picturedesk.com)

"We are a democratic country and want to remain so"
"Although I once said that you have to talk to everyone, that doesn't mean that you have to accept everything", emphasizes Salzburg's Chamber of Commerce President Peter Buchmüller, when asked about the collapse of the blue-black coalition negotiations.

There are certainly reasonable forces in the economy among the Freedom Party. However, it is also clear to him that there are too many red lines. "If no agreement is reached on European policy, security policy, free media and location policy, then it will be difficult to form a coalition," explains Buchmüller.

He adds: "We are a democratic country and want to remain so." Austria as a business location needs a government capable of acting as quickly as possible.

Neos have learned from their mistakes, hope for a second chance
Salzburg National Council member Sepp Schellhorn is hoping that the Neos will give the "Zuckerl coalition" a second chance. "The cards can be reshuffled. We just have to change the game mode," Schellhorn tells the "Krone" newspaper. He also admits mistakes: "We have all made mistakes. It gets bad when you make the same mistakes twice." But lessons have also been learned. In any case, the Neos are ready for new talks.

SPÖ critical of new elections: "What would be the point?"
Bettina Brandauer, co-leader of the Salzburg SPÖ, is relieved that the blue-black negotiations have failed. Many of the demands were questionable in terms of democratic policy. "Now it would be important to get to work, whether with a government of experts or cooperation between the parties," says Brandauer. She is critical of new elections. "I ask myself what would be the point," says Brandauer.

Salzburg's Green Party leader warns against political standstill
Salzburg Green Party leader Martina Berthold can now imagine anything: "Whether new elections, a government of experts or new talks between constructive forces - what is needed now is responsibility, common sense and the will to work together. We cannot afford any more months of political stalemate," she says.

Kay-Michael Dankl (KPÖ Plus) criticizes the state governor
City deputy and KPÖ Plus leader Kay-Michael Dankl also criticizes the state governor: "The failure of the coalition negotiations is a damper on the black-blue project, which Haslauer also played a key role in driving forward. The majority of the federal ÖVP has apparently realized that there is no way to get along with right-wing extremists."