Coalition talks hit deadlock as Austria struggles to form government

Coalition talks in Austria have reached a deadlock, according to reports by Austrian media on Tuesday. While some outlets claimed that negotiations to form a government bringing the far-right FPÖ to power had collapsed, the parties involved insisted that discussions are still ongoing.

The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), which emerged as the largest party in Austria’s September elections, has been engaged in government formation talks with the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) since January. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl had previously warned that if the ÖVP did not fully accept his party as the leading force in the coalition, he would withdraw from the talks and push for new elections.

“The government negotiations are in a difficult phase,” the ÖVP stated on Tuesday evening, according to local media. However, the party emphasized that it remains in “ongoing talks” and confirmed that “negotiations in subgroups are scheduled for today and tomorrow.” ÖVP negotiator Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer told reporters earlier on Tuesday that the chances of success were “50-50.”

Responding to media reports suggesting that talks had been suspended, the FPÖ clarified: “There is no break in the negotiations. It seems that the ÖVP is coordinating internally. This is quite normal in negotiations. We are also coordinating within ourselves repeatedly. Talks could continue tomorrow.”

Efforts to form a government excluding the FPÖ failed earlier this year, leaving the FPÖ and ÖVP as the primary contenders for a coalition. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Vienna on Tuesday to oppose a potential FPÖ-ÖVP government. The demonstration coincided with the 25th anniversary of the first ÖVP-FPÖ coalition.

According to local media, protesters chanted slogans such as “We are the firewall, where are you?” and “Now is the chance to break off negotiations.” The original ÖVP-FPÖ coalition in 2000 prompted Austria’s EU partners to impose bilateral “diplomatic sanctions” on Vienna, breaking a long-standing taboo.