8 hours agoNew Government Forms in Austria, Left Out of Coalition by Extremist Party Winning Elections
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Austria's first three-party government since the aftermath of World War II took office Monday, ending the country's longest waiting for a ruling coalition and keeping the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) out of power, friendly with Russia. Although The FPO won the September parliamentary elections [...]
Austria's first three-party government since the aftermath of World War II took office Monday, ending the country's longest waiting for a ruling coalition and keeping the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) out of power, friendly with Russia.
Although The FPO won September parliamentary elections with about 29% of the vote, the Eurosceptic party failed to form a applicable coalition, opening the door for a centrist alternative, reports resources.
When the FPO's bid was destroyed, the Conservative People's Party (OVP), the Social Democrats (SPO) and liberal Neos reached an alliance, overcoming their earlier conclusion to do one thing.
“Now has to do with co-operation, it's about the realisation of responsibilities”, President Alexander Van der Bellen said as he swore in his cabinet, not allowing it to become the same trilateral coalition to result in double-partys do not have the custom to be the custom, as it happens for the last time in 2019 and 2017.
Had the coalition's recent centrist effort failed, there would have been little alternative to early elections, which polls suggested would have increased more than FPO's votes.
The new government headed by Chancellor Christian Stocker of the OVP takes office after two years of recession and plans spending cuts and tax hikes for major businesses to restore Austria's budget deficit within the European Union's borders and avoid disciplinary procedures from Brussels.
“There is much to do, challenges are big and wide,” said Stocker at a handover ceremony, taking office from interim Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg.
His government plans stricter immigration regulations, as well as stricter penalties against extremism and “political Islam” following a deadly stab attack by a Syrian refugee and planned Islamic attacks that were hampered.
The FPO has benefited from concerns about immigration and security and links both issues, as have many far-right parties enjoying a resurrection across Europe. After calling for a long time to end EU sanctions against Russia, it supports US President Donald Trump's steps towards Moscow for Ukraine.
The OVP will lead the interior and defence ministry, while the Social Democrats will control finances and justice, with the liberal Neos running foreign affairs.
Although the three parties have agreed on a 200-page government programme, they will have to draft many other policies as they move forward.
“Will it be easy? No. Are the negotiations over? No,” Neos' leader Beate Meinl-Reissinger said on Sunday, pledging to “five years of difficult negotiations” with other parties.
The FPO has called for early elections and will pressure them all the time.
The only thing that unites this coalition of losers and traffic lights is the thirst for power,” said FPO on Monday in a reference to a similar trilateral coalition in neighbouring Germany that collapsed late last year.
