Vienna - Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen has announced plans to meet with far-right politician Herbert Kickl amidst growing speculation that Kickl may be asked to form a new government. The decision comes after Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed his intention to resign following the collapse of coalition talks between his conservative Austrian People's Party and the center-left Social Democrats.
Despite Nehammer ruling out working with Kickl, there are indications that some members within the People's Party are open to the idea. The People's Party has nominated Christian Stocker as interim leader, although Nehammer will continue as chancellor for the time being.
Van der Bellen stated that discussions with key officials have suggested a shift in attitudes towards working with the Freedom Party under Kickl's leadership. This change has prompted the president to extend an invitation to Kickl for a meeting on Monday morning.
Kickl's Freedom Party emerged as the top vote-getter in the last national election, but Nehammer was tasked with forming a government due to the reluctance of other parties to collaborate with Kickl.
Stocker, the newly appointed interim leader of the People's Party, expressed his support for the meeting between the president and Kickl. He emphasized that if invited to government formation negotiations, the party would accept the opportunity.
The political landscape in Austria was further complicated by the withdrawal of the liberal party NEOS from coalition talks, leaving the People's Party and the Social Democrats with a slim one-seat majority in Parliament. Efforts to form a new government were unsuccessful due to disagreements over addressing the budget deficit.
The developments in Austrian politics reflect a period of uncertainty and shifting alliances as the country navigates the challenges of government formation in the wake of recent elections.
