Austria eyes new coalition government that excludes far-right Freedom Party

Five months after the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) won the Austrian parliamentary election, three political parties announced that they had come to a consensus to form a coalition government.

Liberal Neos, Social Democrats, and the orthodox People’s Party (OPV) made it known that they would present their coalition at a later on Thursday press conference.

Christian Stocker, the leader of the OVP, stated that the Social Democrats and the liberal coalition partners had come to terms on a “common programme.” Stocker is expected to become the new chancellor.

The longest wait for a new Austrian government since World War II should be ended with the deal announcement.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer resigned after his first attempt to form a ruling coalition with the same three parties failed in January.

The Eurosceptic and Russia-friendly FPO was then tasked with forming a new government, but that bid also failed.

The soon-to-be-announced three-party government, Austria’s first since the late 1940s, is due to take office next week, provided all parties sign off on the deal, the chief hurdle being a vote of Neos members on Sunday, at which a two-thirds majority is required.

Herbert Kickl, the leader of the FPO, has criticized the tie-up as a “coalition of losers,” calling for a quick election, which polls suggest will increase his party’s share of the vote from its initial 29% in September.

The centrist effort is frequently compared to the recently disbanded three-party coalition in neighboring Germany.

The coalition will be under pressure to deliver results, including reducing the budget deficit and avoiding infighting that has shattered previous governments.

“The first message this government has is ‘ We are not Herbert Kickl, we prevented Herbert Kickl]from becoming chancellor] ‘”, political analyst Thomas Hofer said.