Austria: Freedom’s Far Right Party Received Government Formation Order

Rally are political developments in , as today (06.01.2025) federal President Alexander Fan der Bellen gave a government formation order to Herbert Kikle, leader of the Freedom Party (FPÖ). Austria has been in a political crisis over the last few days, since outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer has failed to form a government coalition between the People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the liberals (NEOS) and the far-rights, who won the election last September, are now called upon to form the required parliamentary majority. ADVERSE “I may have certain desires, but respect for voters requires that I accept this majority, ” said Green – born Mr. Fan der Bellen, who had received criticism for his decision to assign the first exploratory mandate to the second party (ÖVP). The federal president stated that it is now Mr. Kikl’s constitutional duty “to investigate the chances of a government with more than 50% and ÖVP is the only one offering this possibility.” However, he stressed that “an Austrian government should in any case respect certain key pillars: rule of law, separation of powers, human and minority rights, free and independent media and participation in the EU.” The transitional president of the Christian Stoker People’s Party has already declared willing to negotiate with the Freedom Party. Outside the Hofburg presidential palace hundreds of citizens, who protested the possibility of forming a government from the far right.