During the government negotiations on Friday, attempts were made to bring the NEOS into a three-party coalition. The related talks with the ÖVP and SPÖ have been ongoing since the morning, but no progress has been reported so far. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen is becoming increasingly impatient. In a statement released in the afternoon, the head of state urged the parties to be willing to compromise.

It was actually expected yesterday that the leaders of the ÖVP and SPÖ would appear at the Hofburg after reaching an agreement on the budget. However, after deciding to try again with the NEOS, everything is now delayed further. By the afternoon, no appointment with the Federal President was in sight. Even the NEOS party board meeting seems to have taken longer than planned. The same now applies to the three-party talks.

Van der Bellen has now taken action himself. In a statement, he "reminds" all parties that compromise is another word for a joint solution. A functioning democracy requires the courage to defend opinions, but also the wisdom to find solutions through compromise. This is not a weakness, but the key to sustainable and fair decisions in a democracy: "Because it is not about individual interests. It is about the whole state."

NEOS Apparently Back on Board in Coalition Talks

According to reports, the formal inclusion of the NEOS in a coalition is the wish of both the ÖVP and the Vienna SPÖ. Many within the Social Democrats could have imagined more flexible partnerships with the three opposition parties. The fact that they are trying again is somewhat surprising, as the NEOS had heavily criticized the SPÖ - especially its leader Andreas Babler - after the failure of the first three-party negotiations.

Education and Foreign Affairs Ministries Could Go to NEOS

They are now said to have been offered two ministries, namely Education and Foreign Affairs. The core of the ÖVP ministries would include, besides the Chancellery, the portfolios for Interior, Defense, Economy, and Agriculture. The SPÖ would receive, among others, Finance, Social Affairs, Infrastructure, and Women's Affairs. Justice is likely to remain with the ÖVP, although Foreign Affairs could potentially go to the NEOS instead. The appointment of the Education Ministry could be interesting, as the favorite was actually Vienna City Councilor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS), who is supposed to lead the state election campaign in Vienna in two months.

Negotiations Likely Not Concluded Today

Regarding the next steps, several more days of negotiations are expected. The government declaration could only be made at the regular session of the National Council next Wednesday if a two-party coalition is formed. The agenda set on Friday does not include a government declaration, but this could still be changed at short notice. The NEOS would need to consult their members for a government agreement. The next relevant meeting is conveniently scheduled for next Friday.

FPÖ Detects "Voter Fraud"

The prospect of the three-party coalition does not leave the Freedom Party, which failed in forming a government, indifferent. General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz writes in a statement about "voter fraud" by a "loser traffic light" coalition. The "clear will of the voters" is being bypassed by "the system." Schnedlitz expects "destruction of prosperity," "security chaos," and "illegal mass immigration." Therefore, he calls for new elections.

Many NEOS Demands So Far Unreciprocated

If the ÖVP and SPÖ actually bring the NEOS back into the coalition, several differences need to be resolved. The protocols leaked in January regarding the failed negotiations at the turn of the year reveal where the NEOS faced obstacles.

Ideas from the NEOS regarding federal state reform, reduction of advertising expenses and party financing, objectivity in appointments, and depoliticization of the ORF and social insurance committees remained largely on red - and thus without agreement.

In the area of budget and taxes, the NEOS advocated for earmarking the consolidation success for an income tax reform and a statutory spending cap. Both remained on red. In the health sector, they hit a wall with the demand for single-source financing of public healthcare.

On the reduction of non-wage labor costs, NEOS and ÖVP agreed, but the SPÖ was a brake here. In the transport sector, the NEOS were alone with their desire for reforms in company cars and the diesel privilege.

The ÖVP and SPÖ also had little enthusiasm for the NEOS' pension reform wishes, specifically linking the retirement age to life expectancy. Placing the entire education sector under federal competence and introducing a "middle maturity" also remained "red."

The NEOS, like the FPÖ recently, demanded a reform of the chambers, including an end to compulsory membership. Both the ÖVP and SPÖ rejected the proposal. Strengthening competition among energy suppliers is also a concern that the NEOS could not push through.

Much remained open in the area of national defense, where the protocols do not clearly show who supported or opposed which demands. However, the NEOS have repeatedly stood out in the past with the - unpopular among others - idea of a European army.

"The Broader and More Stable a Government is, the Better"

The SPÖ and ÖVP in the regions reacted on Friday with cautious optimism to possible renewed trilateral negotiations with the NEOS. The NEOS had sharply criticized the SPÖ and especially their leader Andreas Babler after the failure of the first talks, but open criticism of a potential second attempt with the Pink party was not heard from the Social Democrats during the APA round call. Some black regional representatives advocated for the ÖVP-SPÖ-NEOS option.

"Personally, I can handle it if it goes with the NEOS," said Alois Stöger, the acting SPÖ regional party leader in Upper Austria, who could also imagine a collaboration with the Greens. He was "irritated by the total rejection of the ÖVP towards the Greens." However, if no trilateral coalition comes about, Black-Red would also have an absolute majority. Vorarlberg's SPÖ regional party chairman Mario Leiter would "even welcome" the NEOS' participation in the government. Fundamentally, he believes: "The broader and more stable a government is, the better."

"We support the nominated five-member negotiation team of the SPÖ with the greatest confidence," stated Wolfgang Zwander, regional manager of the Lower Austrian Social Democrats. It is important that concrete content is at the forefront of the negotiations. "I think it's wise to achieve a broad majority, that is, a majority beyond the one-seat overhang," emphasized Peter Eder, Chamber of Labor chief and spokesperson for the interim three-member leadership of the regional SPÖ. The specific involvement of the NEOS will be a subject of negotiation. "The most important thing is that we finally come to a government."

No Comment from Doskozil

Carinthia's SPÖ leader Peter Kaiser was reserved. "First, everything must be fixed so that we can talk about facts," it was said from his office. It appears positive that it should now go "together and constructively in the right direction for Austria." "A coalition, with or without NEOS, will be measured by whether the necessary solutions for the pressing problems of the population come. However, this requires a completed negotiation result, and everyone is well advised to wait for this," said Styria's SPÖ leader Max Lercher, who had recently advocated for an expert government. Burgenland's SPÖ chairman Hans Peter Doskozil, who had also repeatedly spoken out for an expert government and a subsequent new election, did not want to comment on the current situation.

In the ÖVP, Tyrol's governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) once again promoted a trilateral coalition with the NEOS - and now saw the groundwork laid for it. The negotiators had "a good view that stability and stable majorities are needed entirely in the spirit of democracy," Mattle explained on the sidelines of a press conference to the APA. A two-party coalition of ÖVP and SPÖ, on the other hand, would have "too narrow a majority."

Similarly, Styria's ÖVP deputy governor Manuela Khom advocated for a coalition that "stands on stable legs." "It is important to agree on content and go a common path - with whichever party. If it should be a common path with the NEOS, then I am pleased."

Burgenland's ÖVP regional party chairman Christian Sagartz sounded similar: "The broader a government is supported, the better, because especially in challenging times, stability is of crucial importance." Now it is important to look forward and "give the new government a real chance," said Sagartz. There was no statement from the ÖVP regional parties in Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Carinthia on Friday in response to an APA inquiry.

(APA/Red)

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