Negotiations to form a government failed, Austrian Chancellor resigns.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has announced his resignation after talks to form a coalition government collapsed amid disagreements.

"I will resign as chancellor and leader of the [Austrian] People's Party in the coming days and facilitate an orderly transition," Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced in a video posted on social media on January 4.

Austrian Prime Minister Karl Nehammer

According to Reuters, the announcement came after talks to form a coalition government between the Austrian People's Party (OVP) and the Social Democratic Party (SPO) collapsed, with both sides accusing each other of failing to compromise on policy. The New Austria and Freedom Forum (NEOS) also withdrew from the talks the previous day and criticized the remaining parties for not committing to the policies NEOS desired.

The Austrian parliamentary elections took place in September, in which the Freedom Party (FPO) won the most votes for the first time, with approximately 29%. The FPO is a far-right party that advocates anti-immigration and Euroscepticism. Because no other party wanted to cooperate with the FPO, President Alexander Van der Bellen handed the power to form a government to Nehammer's OVP.

With Austrian Chancellor Nehammer's resignation, the two most likely outcomes are that the FPO will once again seek a partner to form a coalition government, or a new election will be held.

Nehammer argued that FPO leader Herbert Kickl was a conspiracy theorist and difficult to lead, although he considered the FPO trustworthy. However, Kickl was not an outsider within the FPO, a party that shared similar views with the OVP on policies such as immigration. The OVP and FPO had ruled together from 2017-2019, with FPO leader Sebastian Kurz as chancellor.

According to Reuters, OVP leaders will meet on January 5 to choose a successor to Nehammer.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dam-phan-lap-chinh-phu-that-bai-thu-tuong-ao-tu-chuc-185250105091629177.htm