Austria’s coalition negotiations took an unexpected turn when talks between the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) fell apart on February 12. Now, FPÖ officials are pointing fingers at foreign influence, suggesting outside forces may have played a role in derailing the deal.
After four weeks of discussions, the two parties hit an impasse—primarily over who would control key government ministries, particularly the interior and finance ministries. In a television interview on February 13, FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafenecker claimed that international interference had pressured the ÖVP into walking away from the coalition talks.
According to Hafenecker, ÖVP leader Christian Stocker had initially wanted the right-wing government to move forward but ultimately “was not allowed to.” He accused the European People’s Party (EPP), a major political faction in the European Parliament, of meddling in Austrian politics, implying that the upcoming German elections on February 23 could have influenced the situation.
Speculation about international involvement had already been circulating, especially after Stocker’s remarks on February 12 explaining why the ÖVP had pulled out.
Stocker suggested he had received warnings from abroad that if the FPÖ were to take over the interior ministry—previously under ÖVP control—it could jeopardize Austria’s collaboration with international security agencies. He hinted that intelligence-sharing with foreign partners could be at risk, potentially leaving Austria vulnerable to threats.
To emphasize the gravity of the situation, Stocker referenced a planned attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna scheduled for the fall of 2024. Austrian security forces had been tipped off by international intelligence agencies about the threat. “Maintaining strong international relationships is critical for this country’s security,” he stressed.
His comments have fueled accusations that Austria’s political landscape is being shaped by outside influences. Political analyst Ralph Schoellhammer described the notion that foreign security agencies might withhold crucial intelligence from Austria as “nothing short of a threat.”
Adding to the political drama, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl released a statement on February 14, slamming the ÖVP for engaging in “absurd” negotiation tactics. He accused the conservatives of merely going through the motions while secretly working on a coalition deal with the Social Democrats and other parties.
Notably, the ÖVP had already attempted coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party and the liberal Neos party earlier this year. However, those discussions collapsed in early January after weeks of negotiations, leaving Austria’s political future as uncertain as ever.
