According to Federal Chancellor Nehammer, the priorities of the coalition negotiations will be measures in the health sector or regionally oriented policy.
The Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the liberal NEOS party will begin official coalition negotiations. After another round of exploratory interviews with SPÖ head Andreas Babler and NEOS chairperson Beata Meinlová-Reisingerová, ÖVP leader and Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced this on Monday. TASR informs about it based on the report of the APA agency.
Nehammer emphasized that the goal, namely the creation of a government, has not yet been achieved and the outcome of the coalition negotiations remains open, but specific topics will begin to be discussed. He described the eventual government as an “alliance of reason and the political center”.
They got the green light
The negotiating teams already received the green light from their parties to start negotiations over the weekend. In the case of NEOS, a decision was needed by the extended leadership of the party, which met on Sunday.
According to Nehammer, the priorities of the coalition negotiations will be a regionally oriented policy that will ensure growth and prosperity, a migration policy that will not overwhelm citizens, and necessary measures in health care, social care and education.
APA reminds that there are big differences between ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS in their programs. Given the budget situation, the biggest issue is likely to be taxes and spending. While ÖVP and NEOS do not want new taxes, SPÖ is in favor of introducing a property tax.
It is the first time since 1945 that coalition negotiations in Austria will take place in a tripartite format. Although the ÖVP and SPÖ would have a majority in the National Council, it would be very narrow in the form of one mandate.
Parliamentary elections in Austria were held on September 29. For the first time since its foundation in 1956, the far-right Free Party of Austria (FPÖ) won them. However, President Alexander Van der Bellen ultimately entrusted acting Chancellor Nehamer with the formation of a new government, which he justified by the fact that no parliamentary party wants to enter into a coalition with the FPÖ. The leader of the People’s Party, Herbert Kickl, sharply criticized this decision of the head of state.
