"Finalize quickly"

After the end of the blue-black coalition: what happens today

(Bild: APA/Georg Hochmuth)

Following the collapse of the FPÖ-ÖVP coalition negotiations, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen held talks on Thursday with all party leaders - with the exception of Herbert Kickl - about forming a future government. They all expressed interest in working together. The current direction is towards black with red.

NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger kicked off the meetings in the Hofburg, followed by Green Party leader Werner Kogler at midday and ÖVP leader Christian Stocker in the afternoon. SPÖ leader Andreas Babler concluded the day.

These were the most important events of the day:

• "I am very happy that the country will be spared a far-right chancellor", commented SPÖ leader Babler on the end of blue-black. A coalition could be in place sooner than many think, he explained on "ZiB 2": "It could really be finalized within two or three weeks."
• "As Austria, we are not a branch office of a Brussels headquarters", Kickl railed against the EU after the failure.

• According to ÖVP leader Stocker, the aim now is to find a way out of this "difficult situation".

• "The NEOS want to show constructiveness in all options," emphasized party leader Meinl-Reisinger.

• The population can see that "Emperor Kickl is naked", said Werner Kogler. The Green Party leader spoke out in favor of a black-red coalition.

• Van der Bellen is said to have given the ÖVP and SPÖ an ultimatum. At least the cornerstones of the new government should be in place in two weeks.

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen is once again inviting the party leaders to talks.

(Bild: GEORG HOCHMUTH / APA / picturedesk.com)

Van der Bellen's four options
On Wednesday, Van der Bellen already spoke of four possible options following the failure of the blue-black coalition: a new election, a minority government with parliamentary acquiescence, a government of experts or a coalition of several parties.

Only the FPÖ wants new elections
If the latest statements are anything to go by, the signs are pointing to early negotiations between the former grand coalition partners. Apart from the FPÖ, nobody really wants new elections. Similar signals can be heard from around the Hofburg. The matter is urgent, as the Federal President conveyed.