Austria’s coalition negotiations have moved into the formal stage after the initial “sounding out” phase, with the three involved parties agreeing to begin full-scale talks.
Conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who is spearheading the process, announced the development on Monday.
The right-wing Freedom Party (FPO), which led the parliamentary elections in September with nearly 29% of the vote, is unable to form a government alone due to the need for a coalition partner to secure a parliamentary majority. With no potential partners emerging, President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked Nehammer, leader of the second-placed People’s Party, with forming a government without the FPO.
Nehammer now aims to establish the first three-way coalition in Austria since its independence was restored in 1955, following the withdrawal of post-war allied forces. The coalition would include the Social Democrats (SPO) and the liberal Neos.
“We have completed the sounding-out phase and are formally beginning coalition talks with the SPO and the Neos,” Nehammer said during a joint press conference with the leaders of the other parties. This transition marks a shift from preliminary discussions among a few representatives to more in-depth, subject-specific negotiations, each with its dedicated teams.
Although it is unclear how long the talks will take, Nehammer has emphasized that the process is expected to be challenging.
