This article was last updated at 6:08 p.m.
According to the People’s Party, the next two days will focus on the first key points of content. The ÖVP cites security and business location as examples. The SPÖ also cited inflation and climate. Despite her imminent resignation from government office, Chancellery Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) will continue to explore the matter.
“For us, the issues of migration, security, economic location as well as health and care are of crucial importance,” was the message from the VP negotiating team in the afternoon. These topics will be discussed over the next two days so that more in-depth negotiating groups can be set up for any government negotiations. The first round aimed to make the climate between the two parties constructive. Tuesday and Wednesday it’s time for the content.
Big solutions for big problems
The SPÖ, in turn, emphasizes that it has understood the population’s desire for change and solutions to challenges. The most important issues for voters included inflation and affordable living, security and migration, health and care and, last but not least, climate. Work and the economy are further central issues from a social democratic perspective. In all of these areas, big solutions for big problems will be needed instead of minimal compromises, the SPÖ negotiators emphasized on Monday afternoon.
It has now also been decided that Karoline Edtstadler will remain in the ÖVP exploratory team despite her decision not to join the next government. The current Chancellery Minister wants to fulfill her mandate in the National Council in the future and set up a law firm in her home state of Salzburg. She has passed the necessary bar exam.
It took until this afternoon for the Chancellor to accept Edtstadler’s offer to continue to participate. Of course, she will continue to be part of the People’s Party’s negotiating team with her expertise and will remain a minister until a new federal government is formed, Nehammer wrote on “X”.
In addition to Nehammer, the ÖVP exploratory team also includes managing club chairman August Wöginger, general secretary Christian Stocker, state secretary Claudia Plakolm and business association boss Harald Mahrer. There are no signs of any changes at the SPÖ either. The team consists of the managing club chairman Philip Kucher, women’s leader Eva Maria Holzleitner, ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian, the Third National Council President Doris Bures and party chairman Andreas Babler.
Greens are seen as outsiders
The latter became active on Monday. A meeting with Neos chairwoman Beate Meinl-Reisinger was scheduled for later in the afternoon. Their party is considered a likely third partner should the ÖVP and SPÖ find a way to work together. Meinl-Reisinger had already met Nehammer before the autumn holidays – as had Green Party spokesman Werner Kogler. He will have a conversation with Babler during the week. The Greens are now considered blatant outsiders when it comes to government participation, but would probably be needed more often when it comes to two-thirds issues.
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The FPÖ, however, considered it appropriate that not only the ÖVP and SPÖ, but also the Freedom Party, get an insight into the finances. In a joint statement from MPs Hubert Fuchs, Barbara Kolm and Arnold Schiefer it was said that this was the only way to prevent the red and black from putting together a deceptive package again just to look good.
Wishes to the explorers
Diakonie director Maria Katharina Moser also sent wishes to the explorers on Monday. Education, housing, health, long-term care, combating child poverty, climate, integration of refugees and people with disabilities into the labor market are crucial future questions for the country: “I expect them from the parties that want to govern Austria in the next few years , courageously and offensively.” This means investing in social security, because corresponding measures are investments in the future.
