Karl Nehammer accepted the order given by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen to form a government in a statement in the afternoon “with all honesty and seriousness.” The Chancellor also indicated that he is aiming for a three-party coalition. Nehammer is aiming for a “stable federal government supported by a broad majority in the National Council”. As a reminder: the ÖVP and the Social Democrats only have one mandate surplus. Van der Bellen had previously called on Nehammer to begin negotiations with the SPÖ immediately. She appeared “open to constructive discussions” on Tuesday afternoon.
Otherwise, Nehammer largely followed the Federal President’s line of argument. The basis of governance is a parliamentary majority. The FPÖ, as the party with the largest number of votes, was unable to find this in the exploratory talks, said Nehammer. That’s why the Federal President gave him the order. He will now “work hard to ensure that Austria has a stable federal government supported by a broad majority.”
Video: Nehammer’s explanation in full
No “business as usual”
Once again he made it clear that he stood by what he promised before the election. At the same time, Nehammer admitted that the election result was not a mandate for “business as usual”. Changes and reforms are now needed “in order to be able to meet the challenges of the future.” He will take people’s concerns seriously and put them at the center of everything he does, including those “who didn’t trust us this time.”
OÖN analysis with domestic policy chief Sigrid Brandstätter:
The current Chancellor named location policy, Austria’s competitiveness, migration and integration as well as a comprehensive health and care system as “core questions” and focal points. In addition, Nehammer warned the potential government partner SPÖ, without explicitly naming them, that the welfare state can only be financed by people who work and are willing to perform: “Work must be worth it again.”
Babler “open to constructive discussions”
SPÖ leader Andreas Babler appeared “open” to “constructive discussions” in a broadcast. There will only be a coalition with the SPÖ “if we work together to find solutions to the major challenges facing Austria.” The condition is to be able to implement real improvements for the population together: “We don’t want ‘business as usual’,” Babler apparently agrees with Nehammer on this point.
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Despite all this, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl saw opportunities for his party to participate in government. Addressing the blue voters on social media in the afternoon, he wrote: “…I promise you: the last word has not yet been spoken. Today is not the end of every day.” Meanwhile, the Neos once again expressed their willingness to work together.
Van der Bellen had “let the population know” that he was “breaking with the tried and tested and normal processes of our second republic” – and “did not commission the election winner and first place in the National Council election – i.e. the FPÖ – to form a government,” Kickl wrote on Facebook . “This may seem like a slap in the face to many of you,” but he promises all of them that the last word has not yet been spoken.
The election result was an “unmistakable call for change and renewal,” said Kickl. He therefore sees it today as he has done so far: “It is our political responsibility to keep our hand outstretched.” The FPÖ wants to work for Austria and is ready to take responsibility. “It’s not up to us.”
It will be seen which coalition will be at the end of the development. “If the voters have their way, it can only be a government under the leadership of the FPÖ,” the FPÖ leader underlined his claim to be chancellor despite the latest developments and borrowed from a quote from Van der Bellen: “I “I am convinced that the beauty of democracy lies in the fact that the implementation of the will of the voters can sometimes be slowed down and slowed down, but ultimately cannot be prevented or stopped.”