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Austria's far-right Freedom Party asked to form government

January 6, 2025

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl formally received a mandate to form a new government, after coalition talks between centrist parties had collapsed.

https://p.dw.com/p/4orhF
Austria's President Alexander van der Bellen (L) welcomes the leader of the far-right Freedom party (FPOe) Herbert Kickl for talks on January 6
Van der Bellen (left) welcomed Herbert Kickl, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party, for talks on MondayImage: JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday tasked Herbert Kickl, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), with the formation of a new government.

Van der Bellen's offer came after Chancellor Karl Nehammer handed in his resignation on Saturday over the collapse of coalition talks that had excluded the FPÖ.

Why is Austria's far right forming the government?

Kickl's party won the Austrian parliamentary election in September, taking 28.8% of the vote and beating outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer's conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) into second place.

However, Van der Bellen had tasked Nehammer with putting together a new government because no other party was willing to work with Kickl.

On Sunday, Van der Bellen said a "new situation" had emerged, noting that "voices within the People's Party that rule out working with... Kickl have become significantly quieter."

"I did not take this step lightly," said Van der Bellen, who commissioned Kickl to hold coalition talks with the conservative ÖVP. 

The previous coalition negotiations between the ÖVP and the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) failed, as had three-way talks that also involved the centrist Neos party.

"Respect for the voters' vote requires that the federal president respects the majority," said Van der Bellen, even if he had other wishes and ideas.

Austria's hard-right party comes first in national election

Kickl had assured him that he was confident of finding viable solutions in the context of government negotiations — "and he wants this responsibility," Van der Bellen added.

German far-right hope to emulate FPÖ success

In Germany, conservative Christian Democrat (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz has categorically ruled out any similar cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

AfD party leader Alice Weidel said the so-called "firewall" erected by Merz will not last.

Voters do not want coalitions "in which left-wing parties again set the tone," even when there is a common majority made up of the conservatives and the AfD."

"The last hour of the 'firewall' will soon strike here too," Weidel said in reference to Kickl being asked to form a government. 

rc/kb (AFP, dpa)