Austria's far-right election champion will not constitute a government. That's why – Country
The tripartites reached a deal on Thursday to form a new centrist Austrian government that failed to form a government two weeks after a far-right party won the election in September.
The conservative Austrian BJP, the center-left Social Democrats and the liberal NEO agreed to a coalition plan after Christian Stocker was expected to become prime minister, who was called “perhaps the most difficult negotiation in government in our country's history.”
Three weeks ago, politicians in the country broke the 129-day record after World War II to form a new government in 1962.
Immigration, Economics and Extremism
“The challenge is historic and far-reaching,” said NBP leader Stoke, noting that the ongoing war in Ukraine, Austria's budget and immigration pressure are shocking, which are the top issues in Austrian politics.
The alliance agreement requires strict new asylum rules for 9 million people in EU countries. It expects to set “Back to Center” as homes refuse asylum seekers and suspend family gatherings. Stoke said the new administration would “reserve the right to impose an asylum freeze” if the number of asylum applications increases.
The agreement includes a “mandatory integration program” for all asylum seekers seeking in Austria, which includes tuition fees for language and values and community services.
Stocker also announced that the tripartite agreed to create a headscarf ban for girls under the age of 14 to prevent “quarantine and repression.”
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Social Democratic leader Andreas Babler stressed the need to address Austria's budget deficit and said “a wider shoulder can bear a heavier burden”. The deal, he said, included taxes on banks.
Austria faces an increase in unemployment and a third year of recession. The EU is under pressure to save billions of euros.
Babl said the new government will work to “eliminate the breeding grounds of radicalism and extremism” after the fatal stabbing of suspected Islamic extremists recently. He said it will look for “quick solutions” to ensure social media platforms take on greater responsibilities.
This is the second attempt by three mainstream parties to form a new government without the far-right, anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic Liberals, the most powerful political force in the September 29 elections in Austria. 28.8% of the vote.
Their first efforts went bankrupt in early January, prompting then-principal Karl Nehammer to resign – and set up a scene for the Austrian president to try to form a government.
Kickl himself tried to form a coalition with the BJP, which ranked second in the election and condemned each other on February 12. Mainstream parties are at risk of a new election, which is unlikely to do anything pampered with new elections, and they have recovered their efforts to find common ground.
“The most expensive government ever offered us the worst plan,” Kyle said in an article on social platform X on Thursday. Austria's lows! ”
Stocker, 64, will head to the principal, one of the most unlikely politicians to have yet to become the country's leader – he did not run for the post when the Austrian voted in September.
Before entering the National Parliament in 2019, he worked as a local politician for most of his time in the lower Austrian province. The highest elected office he has served so far is Deputy Mayor of Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna. However, he became an experienced crisis manager and served as secretary-general of the BJP, a position he held in 2022.
When he became the party leader last month, Stocker made a rough turn and participated in coalition talks with Kickl, refusing to work before his party — but blamed Kickl for his demands and accused him of “attitude” to cut negotiations.
The alliance agreement said Thursday that the parties to the new government were “committed to the greatest peace project ever”. It added that Austria will continue to participate in the European Skyshield missile defense program, which Kickl's party wants to leave.
Why is this a tripartite government?
The outgoing government is a BJP and environmentalist Green Party coalition led by interim Prime Minister Alexander Schallenberg, which has been guarding people since the election.
The BJP and Social Democrats used to rule Austria together, but the most likely majority in the parliament elected in September had 92 out of 183 seats.
This is generally believed to be that the mat is too small, so both sides attempt to introduce NEO, which has 18 seats and has not yet joined the National Government.
The deal still needs formal recognition from two major parties and two-thirds of the majority of NEOS members and two-thirds of the majority of NEOS members at the convention expected on Sunday.
–Geir Moulson of Berlin contributed to the report.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
