Austria's Far-Right Freedom Party Invited to Form Ruling Coalition

Austria's president has tasked the anti-migration, pro-Kremlin Freedom Party (FPÖ) with holding talks to form a ruling coalition, potentially paving the way for the far-right to lead the government for the first time since the Second World War.

- Deborah Cole

After meeting the FPÖ leader, Herbert Kickl, at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Alexander Van der Bellen said the party, which narrowly won the most votes in September's general election, could begin negotiations with the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) on forming a governing alliance.

“I didn’t take this decision lightly,” said the president, who under the constitution formally names the chancellor. “I will continue to make sure that the principles and rules of our constitution are respected and upheld.”

Months-long negotiations by mainstream parties to form a coalition to block the hard right collapsed at the weekend because of differences on how to revive the ailing Austrian economy and manage public finances.

The chancellor, Karl Nehammer of the ÖVP, announced his intention to resign on Saturday after the talks broke down. He had repeatedly ruled out becoming junior partner to the FPÖ with Kickl as the head of government. Some commentators said the U-turn by Nehammer’s party bordered on voter fraud.