Austria's coalition talks collapse as Chancellor Karl Nehammer resigns, sparking uncertainty over far-right FPO's role and potential snap elections.
Negotiations between Austria's two main centrist parties to form a coalition government excluding the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) collapsed on Saturday, leading conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer to announce his resignation.
The liberal Neos party had withdrawn from talks a day earlier, accusing the other parties of failing to embrace the bold and decisive measures it advocated.
"I will stand down as chancellor and as leader of the People's Party in the coming days and enable an orderly transition," Nehammer said in a video statement on X, following discussions with the Social Democrats (SPO).
The collapse of these coalition talks, three months after the parliamentary election in September, highlights the increasing challenges of establishing stable governments in European nations like Germany and France, where the far right is gaining momentum, but many political groups resist partnering with them.
The eurosceptic and Russia-friendly FPO emerged victorious in the election with about 29% of the vote. However, it required a coalition partner to govern. Nehammer had ruled out a coalition with FPO leader Herbert Kickl, leaving the FPO without any viable partners.
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former Greens leader, had tasked Nehammer with forming a government. With Nehammer stepping down, the two main possibilities are that Kickl will be asked to form a government or that a snap election will be held.
Nehammer has criticized Kickl as being "too much of a conspiracy theorist to lead a government" but noted that many in the FPO are trustworthy. Despite this, Kickl's views align with those of Nehammer's People's Party (OVP) on issues such as immigration.
The OVP leadership planned to meet on Sunday to decide Nehammer's successor. The new leader is expected to be more open to a coalition with the FPO, a partnership favored by a significant portion of the OVP.
The two parties had previously governed together under OVP leadership from 2017 to 2019, when the FPO's former leader stepped down following a video scandal, causing that coalition to dissolve.
A New York judge has dismissed terrorism-related charges against Luigi Mangione in the killing of health executive Brian Thompson, though he still fac...
During Tuesday's Human Rights Council debate in Geneva, the United Nations rights chief said Israel undermined regional peace and stability in last we...
As India advances its own initiative to link South Asia with Europe, the competition for future trade routes is intensifying. But will India’s corri...
The European Union will strengthen its power grid and launch a new initiative targeting eight key energy bottlenecks across the bloc, according to the...
Italy will deploy two Eurofighter Typhoon jets to support NATO’s new mission reinforcing its eastern flank, after a series of suspected Russian dron...
The glitz and the glamour of extremely popular live TV broadcast of The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Vienna in Austria again, marking the city’s third time hosting the event after 1967 and 2015.
A man opened fire in the Austrian town of Traiskirchen on Sunday, killing one person and seriously wounding another before taking his own life, police said.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen on Friday called for reforms to global governance bodies and pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Australia has confirmed a $1.3 billion missile deal with the U.S., highlighting its defence priorities, while stopping short of committing to Washington’s 3.5% GDP spending target.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. and China have a deal that would keep TikTok operating in the United States, transferring its U.S. assets to U.S. owners from China's ByteDance, potentially resolving a saga that has lingered for nearly a year.
A New York judge has dismissed terrorism-related charges against Luigi Mangione in the killing of health executive Brian Thompson, though he still faces murder charges and a federal case seeking the death penalty.
During Tuesday's Human Rights Council debate in Geneva, the United Nations rights chief said Israel undermined regional peace and stability in last week's attack on Hamas leaders, who were in Qatar to negotiate a ceasefire.
As India advances its own initiative to link South Asia with Europe, the competition for future trade routes is intensifying. But will India’s corridor become a real rival—or just another headline?
The European Union will strengthen its power grid and launch a new initiative targeting eight key energy bottlenecks across the bloc, according to the European Commission President.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment