Livestream of the meeting

Three-party coalition speaks for the first time in the National Council

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

The new three-party coalition presented itself in the National Council on Friday. Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) held his first government statement, after which he had to leave the plenary chamber due to illness. The Zuckerl coalition, meanwhile, called for compromise. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, on the other hand, was fiercely critical. You can follow the session in the livestream above.

Government statement in parliament on Friday by a feverish head of government. Neo-Chancellor Christian Stocker had come to the session with a serious health condition and was treated by a doctor after his speech. All further appointments were canceled. The ÖVP announced that the Chancellor would recover over the next few days.

An excerpt of the best sayings from the National Council meeting on Friday: 

That's when you learn to listen to the other person too. And to find solutions over a proverbial beer afterwards."

Bundeskanzler Christian Stocker (ÖVP) über seine Zeit in der Kommunalpolitik

I am happy that crisis profiteers such as banks0, corporations and private foundations are now being asked to pay.

Vizekanzler Andreas Babler (SPÖ)

Fear is the worst advisor. We must roll up our sleeves with confidence.

Außenministerin Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS)

The federal government is a mix of Marx and Murks with pink support wheels.

FPÖ-Klubobmann Herbert Kickl

The times are out of joint. It is therefore all the more important that Austria now has a democratically legitimized government.

Werner Kogler, Klubobmann der Grünen

Herbert Kickl had his chance and squandered it. He is more of a 'will-not chancellor'.

ÖVP-Klubobmann August Wöginger

His statement was peppered with conciliatory, unifying, but also pathetic tones. According to Stocker, the three-party coalition provides more insight. In view of the crises, the focus must be on what we have in common, by which he also means the opposition.

Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker on the government bench

(Bild: HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Gentle sounds from the Chancellor
"Let's set a good example." Gentle sounds like this under the supervision of Head of State Alexander Van der Bellen: Stocker emphasized that he himself, as well as his partners Andreas Babler (SPÖ) and Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS), started out in local politics. "That's where you learn to respond to others. And to find solutions over a proverbial beer afterwards." Stocker appealed to the other forces to follow suit. 

His coalition partners joined in the canon of compromise and optimism. Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger naturally emphasized the pro-European component and said: "Fear is the worst advisor. We must roll up our sleeves with confidence."

Beate Meinl-Reisinger

(Bild: HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Babler scathes against Kickl
Andreas Babler made similar comments, although he also addressed his great adversary Herbert Kickl. He admitted that the prevention of the "People's Chancellor" had been an argument in favor of the three-party coalition, but not only that. The left-wing politician could not refrain from making class warfare comments. He was happy that crisis profiteers such as banks (the levy alone brings in a billion a year), corporations and private foundations would now be asked to pay.

Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler

(Bild: MAX SLOVENCIK)

"XXL government bank" in Kickl's sights
"Everyone has to step up, especially those with strong shoulders. We are in a recession." There are also solutions to asylum issues, in contrast to FPÖ leader Kickl, who is just ranting. He had his say after the government representatives. As expected, he was peppered with points and attacks. He referred to the "XXL government bank", the largest and most expensive in history: "A compilation of new election refugees."

Herbert Kickl's facial expression says more than a thousand words.

(Bild: HELMUT FOHRINGER)

The three-party coalition is a "trio infernale". The government program contains nothing on Fortress Austria, remigration, no strengthening of the healthcare system or structural reforms. Instead, he criticized the "messenger surveillance" of dangerous individuals. For him, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner is a "narrow-minded Metternich" who is already waiting in the wings.

Greens are decidedly constructive
Kickl also had nothing good to say about economic and budget policy. In the Ministry of Finance, "the red carpet has been rolled out for communism". Now "class warfare" reigns there. Green party chairman Werner Kogler was emphatically constructive.

He was pleased that there was now a stable, pro-European, democratic government in these uncertain, dramatic times. However, the recognition for the governing parties was followed by criticism of the content of the government program, namely the planned cuts in the environmental sector. According to Kogler, there is a risk of damage to the "delicate seedling of the economy".