FPÖ Offer to ÖVP: Kickl Insists on Interior and Finance Ministry in Coalition Negotiations

The FPÖ offer available to the APA contains some small concessions, but the Freedom Party still insists on retaining the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance. When asked, the party confirmed the existence of the document, which was already handed over at a meeting of the party leaders on Tuesday.

FPÖ Demands Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Finance from ÖVP

According to the new proposal from the Freedom Party, they would receive six ministries in a blue-turquoise government: In addition to the Federal Chancellor himself and the Chancellery (including the areas of constitution, deregulation, media, and digitalization), these would also include the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance, which the ÖVP also has its sights on. Additionally, a Ministry of Labor, which should also include integration, would be new compared to previous proposals. There would also be a ministry for health, sports, and tourism.

ÖVP to Receive Seven Ministries According to FPÖ Offer

According to the blue proposal, the ÖVP would receive seven ministries: Foreign Affairs including the EU, transport and infrastructure, economy, research and energy, national defense and public service, agriculture and environment. New is that (in exchange for the now blue labor ministry) the social sector should also go to the ÖVP, including women, family, and youth. Additionally, there would be education, science, art, and culture. The Ministry of Justice would be filled with an independent candidate on an FPÖ ticket.

FPÖ Confirms Offer to ÖVP

"This is the Freedom Party's offer," confirmed the blue Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz the content of the paper that was transmitted to ÖVP leader Stocker. With such a distribution, the ÖVP could "act in all its core competencies." For example, the entire location policy would fall to them. In view of the proposal, "it is probably obvious that the FPÖ, in return, claims its core competencies located in the Ministry of the Interior - security and asylum - for itself." On Wednesday, another meeting between the party leaders Herbert Kickl and Christian Stocker was scheduled, where the blue proposal is to be discussed. After a meeting the day before reportedly lasted less than half an hour, it is questionable whether they will meet at all or just talk on the phone. After that, both parties could make a final decision on whether to continue negotiations at all. In this regard, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen also put pressure after talks with Kickl and Stocker on Tuesday.

ÖVP Governor Wallner Sees FPÖ Leader Kickl "Caught in a Power Frenzy"

Meanwhile, Vorarlberg's Governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP) sharply criticized FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. He is "caught in a power frenzy instead of making viable substantive and competence-related compromises. If he insists on these positions, no state can be made with him," Wallner stated in a broadcast. A Federal Chancellor must demonstrate dialogue skills, act statesmanlike, and work with all responsible parties - on equal footing, with respect, and a clear pro-European stance. However, Kickl remains in opposition mode, Wallner saw signs that Kickl cannot do this.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.