Austrian President to Meet with Far-Right Politician to Form Government
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen announced on Sunday that he would meet with far-right politician Herbert Kickl, sparking speculation that he may ask the Freedom Party leader to form a government.
Background
Van der Bellen made the announcement after meeting with Chancellor Karl Nehammer and others at his presidential palace. Nehammer has announced his intention to resign after coalition talks between his conservative Austrian People’s Party and the center-left Social Democrats collapsed over the budget.
Coalition Talks Collapse
Nehammer has ruled out working with Kickl, but others within his party are less adamant. Earlier Sunday, the People’s Party nominated its general secretary, Christian Stocker, as interim leader, but the president said Nehammer would remain chancellor for now.
Freedom Party’s Election Program
In its election program titled “Fortress Austria,” the Freedom Party calls for “remigration of uninvited foreigners,” for achieving a more “homogeneous” nation by tightly controlling borders and suspending the right to asylum via an emergency law. The party also calls for an end to sanctions against Russia, is highly critical of Western military aid to Ukraine and wants to bow out of the European Sky Shield Initiative, a missile defense project launched by Germany.
Kickl’s Views
Kickl has criticized “elites” in Brussels and called for some powers to be brought back from the European Union to Austria.
Meeting with Van der Bellen
This weekend, Van der Bellen said that he had spent several hours talking to key officials, after which he got the impression that “the voices within the People’s Party who exclude working with the Freedom Party under its leader Herbert Kickl have become quieter.” The president said that this development has “potentially opened a new path,” which has prompted him to invite Kickl for a meeting on Monday morning.
The meeting between Van der Bellen and Kickl has sparked speculation that the Freedom Party leader may be asked to form a government. The Freedom Party topped the polls in the autumn’s national election with 29.2% of the vote, but Van der Bellen tasked Nehammer with putting together a new government because no other party was willing to work with Kickl.
Q: What is the Freedom Party’s election program?
A: The Freedom Party’s election program, titled “Fortress Austria,” calls for “remigration of uninvited foreigners,” for achieving a more “homogeneous” nation by tightly controlling borders and suspending the right to asylum via an emergency law.
Q: What are Kickl’s views on the European Union?
A: Kickl has criticized “elites” in Brussels and called for some powers to be brought back from the European Union to Austria.
Q: Will the Freedom Party form a government?
A: The meeting between Van der Bellen and Kickl has sparked speculation that the Freedom Party leader may be asked to form a government. However, it is unclear whether the party will accept the invitation.
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