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

The negotiations for forming a coalition remain complicated. On Wednesday, the FPÖ and ÖVP exchanged proposals through the media regarding the distribution of ministries, which were not necessarily compatible. Additionally, various discourtesies were exchanged. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl made it clear in a video beforehand that it was not the FPÖ's fault that there was constant talk about ministries. This was the ÖVP's wish. The Freedom Party would have preferred to clarify the content beforehand.

FPÖ Demands Interior and Finance Ministries 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 Interior and Finance Ministries, which the ÖVP also has its eyes on. Additionally, new compared to previous proposals would be a Ministry of Labor, which should also include integration. 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 would 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.

ÖVP's Own Proposal to FPÖ

The ÖVP apparently does not like the offer. On Wednesday, they sent out their own proposal. This includes two variants, each seeing the Interior Ministry with the People's Party. In one proposal, however, the asylum agendas would be outsourced to a separate ministry that would go to the FPÖ. The catch: In that case, the finance ministry would go to the ÖVP. The other variant envisions a Freedom Party state secretary for asylum in an ÖVP-led Interior Ministry. The finance ministry would then go to the FPÖ. Regardless, there was further criticism from the ÖVP towards the Freedom Party. Secretary General Alexander Pröll complained that the FPÖ had still not responded to the list of principles for a joint government presented by the People's Party on Monday. This included a commitment to "Skyshield."

FPÖ Confirms Offer to ÖVP

"This is the freedom party's offer," confirmed the FPÖ General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz regarding the content of the document that had been sent to ÖVP leader Stocker. Through such a division, the ÖVP could "operate in all its core competencies." For instance, the entire location policy would fall to them. In light 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 party leaders Herbert Kickl and Christian Stocker was scheduled, where the FPÖ's proposal is to be discussed. After a meeting the day before reportedly lasted not even half an hour, it is questionable whether they will meet at all or just have a phone call. 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 applied 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 sustainable content and competence-based compromises. If he insists on these positions, no state can be made with him," Wallner stated in a release. A chancellor must demonstrate dialogue skills, act statesmanlike, and collaborate 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 could not do this. Without naming Wallner, the FPÖ responded on X: "This is not a power frenzy, this is more than fair, unless the ÖVP wants a sole government."

FPÖ State Politicians Advocate for "Bourgeois Cooperation"

In response, the FPÖ mobilized its own state politicians. Upper Austria's Deputy Governor Manfred Haimbuchner saw the FPÖ's proposals as "an expression of bourgeois cooperation." The FPÖ is ready to work with the ÖVP "with this honest division of departments" for our country. Burgenland's FPÖ club leader Norbert Hofer also stepped up to support the federal party. He thanked Kickl for his "foresight" in the offer to the ÖVP. Because governing honestly also means making a fair offer. A bourgeois cooperation and honest division of core competencies is what the location Austria, the economy, and also the population need now.

How things will proceed was unclear. There was no information from the presidential office on whether another visit by Kickl is planned. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen made it clear on Tuesday evening after meetings with the FPÖ leader and VP chairman Christian Stocker that he wanted a quick resolution.

(APA/Red)

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