What now, Mr. VdB?

136 days in vain: Austria’s politics in ruins

Domestic policy

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/stock.adobe)

Rien ne va plus! What had been looming for days became reality on Wednesday afternoon: the coalition negotiations between the FPÖ and ÖVP have finally failed. Now it is up to Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen to decide how to proceed. The fact is: Austria's domestic politics are in ruins 136 days after the National Council elections. 

Forming a government after the National Council elections on September 29 was complicated from the outset. Initially, Karl Nehammer as ÖVP leader was given the task of forming a government.

After talks between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS broke down and Nehammer resigned, it was the turn of election winner Herbert Kickl (FPÖ). The FPÖ and ÖVP held coalition negotiations for five weeks. At first, it looked like a quick agreement, as a joint savings package of around 6.4 billion euros had already been presented in mid-January.

The negotiations between the blue and black parties have failed.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/Helmut Fohringer)

Blue and black: after the austerity package agreement, it was all downhill
However, the blue-black negotiating engine then stuttered more and more. Statements by ÖVP leader Christian Stocker, for example, who demanded a course correction from the Freedom Party in a media background discussion, caused disgruntlement among the FPÖ. The FPÖ's demand for a bank levy caused further controversy. As is well known, negotiations were interrupted the previous week, after which there was complete radio silence between the negotiating leaders for around two days.

There were also wild disputes regarding the division of portfolios. Kickl always insisted on both ministries: Finance and Home Affairs. The ÖVP, on the other hand, presented the Blue Party with a paper in which common basic lines of governance were to be defined.

ÖVP attacked FPÖ: "power trip"
 Statements by Harald Mahrer, President of the Chamber of Commerce, are likely to have finally broken the camel's back on Tuesday. The black negotiator sharply attacked the FPÖ: "Austria is a democracy and basic democratic principles are important. Anyone who is not willing to reach a consensus and is only in the throes of power is probably not fit to govern." Markus Wallner, Governor of the Vorarlberg ÖVP, addressed similarly clear words to the FPÖ leader.

Harald Mahrer, President of the Chamber of Commerce, sharply attacked FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl on Tuesday

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER, APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER (Montage), KRONE KREATIV)

As a final rescue attempt, both the FPÖ and the ÖVP made new proposals for the division of portfolios on Wednesday, which were promptly rejected by the other side. In the afternoon, Kickl finally resigned his government mandate. 

Four and a half months have already passed since the National Council elections - but there is still no new government. 

Failure of government negotiations extremely rare
The failure of concrete government negotiations has been extremely rare to date. Most of the coalition negotiations that have begun after the 24 National Council elections in the Second Republic have been brought to a successful conclusion. Before the current series of failed negotiations, coalition negotiations had only ended unsuccessfully three times - most recently in 2002 between the ÖVP and the Greens.

Federal President prepared for all scenarios
There are now several possible scenarios: In addition to new elections or renewed black-red negotiations, there is also the option of the Federal President appointing a government of experts - this would, of course, have to be supported by a majority in parliament. The Office of the Federal President already emphasized on Monday that it is prepared for all scenarios. 

Babler in favor of a government of experts or new negotiations
SPÖ leader Andreas Babler let it be known via X that he had informed Van der Bellen that he would both support a government of experts and be available for further negotiations. Green Party leader Werner Kogler expressed a similar view: the Federal President would take the next step "with his usual foresight and prudence".

Meinl-Reisinger and Ludwig court the ÖVP
NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) had already shown their willingness for renewed tripartite negotiations on Tuesday. However, the NEOS leader conceded that the SPÖ would have to "move to the center".