But people weren’t much smarter after Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen’s talks with ÖVP chairman Karl Nehammer and SPÖ leader Andreas Babler. None of the participants in the discussion commented on the relevant content afterwards.
As with Van der Bellen’s exchange with FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl on Friday, the discussions lasted around 1.5 hours. When asked how things were going so far, the Federal President said “great”. Van der Bellen will only say more once his first round of talks is over. On Tuesday it will be the turn of Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Green Party spokesman Werner Kogler.
“Trustful” conversation
There was no statement from Nehammer following his interview on Monday morning. The conversation was “trusting,” said the Chancellor in response to a question before he hurried out of the Hofburg. A further statement from the ÖVP leader is only planned after the Federal President’s talks have been concluded, i.e. Tuesday or Wednesday.
Babler didn’t have many words, but a few more for media representatives. He even described his conversation as “very trusting.” There was a “very good conversation” about “the political situation in Austria”.
The starting position this time is particularly complicated, as none of the other parties want to form a coalition with the FPÖ under Kickl. On the other hand, the ÖVP and SPÖ only have a one-vote advantage, which in political terms would make it necessary to involve a third partner if this constellation were chosen.
It is still unclear whether Van der Bellen will award a government contract after his round of talks has concluded. Alternatively, the parties could look for majorities among themselves and then offer them to the Federal President.
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This article was last published on October 7th. updated at 3:28 p.m.