According to the party statute, at least a two-thirds majority of the pink base is required. This removed the last hurdle for NEOS's participation in the government.

Meinl-Reisinger Advocated for Three-Party Coalition Before Vote

In the ÖVP and SPÖ, the respective boards already approved the government program and minister list on Friday. After the NEOS base's approval, nothing stands in the way of the new government's swearing-in by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday morning, with the appointment scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. according to the presidential office's announcement. At 12:40 p.m., the handover of office from outgoing Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg to his successor Christian Stocker (both ÖVP) will follow at the Federal Chancellery. The government declaration in the National Council could then follow on Friday.

NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger, who is designated as Foreign Minister, thanked the cheering members in the balloon hall at the Vienna Arsenal after the result was announced. "The work begins," she exclaimed. Now, after the hard work of the past weeks and the much work that awaits her starting tomorrow, she wants to celebrate.

A total of 1,737 NEOS members cast their votes, with 1,635 voting for the government program and 102 against. Before the vote, the party leadership had already campaigned intensively for the program and the base's approval through online dialogues. On-site, information sheets were available listing "the ten most important successes" of NEOS in the government program, including the planned second mandatory kindergarten year, budget consolidation primarily through structural reforms, an anti-bureaucracy program, or a mandatory integration program from day one.

The FPÖ reacted with scorn to the vote. The oldest of all system coalitions in Austria now officially has its "pink training wheels," said Secretary General Christian Hafenecker in a statement. Those who believed in the promise of change in the National Council election in September now wake up to a "'business as usual - only worse' coalition," according to the FPÖ Secretary General. For two ministerial posts, Meinl-Reisinger betrayed NEOS principles such as the fight against the bloated and non-transparent chamber state.

(APA/Red)

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