Austrian far-right leader Herbert Kickl is giving up his chance to form a new coalition government in Vienna after negotiations with the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) broke down.
Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Kickl informed Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen of his decision in a letter, saying that although his party met the ÖVP halfway on many points during talks, “To our regret, the negotiations were ultimately unsuccessful.”
The FPÖ won the most votes in the September Austrian election and has been in discussions with the ÖVP since January — but were unable to reach an agreement on sharing Cabinet posts.
In his latest offer to the ÖVP Wednesday, Kickl offered it more ministries than his own party would get, though insisting on the key posts of interior and finance. In its counteroffer, the ÖVP wanted to keep the finance and interior ministries, but offered the FPÖ the asylum and migration portfolios — an offer Kickl subsequently rejected.
Van der Bellen could now appoint a technocratic government — or Austria could be poised for a new election.
Another possibility remains: that the ÖVP resume coalition talks (which first broke down in early January) with the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the liberal NEOS party — all three have signaled their willingness to again speak with the ÖVP, according to public broadcaster ORF.
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