During the government negotiations on Friday, attempts were made to move the NEOS into a three-party coalition. The related talks with the ÖVP and SPÖ have been ongoing since the morning, and the public is to be informed in the evening. A meeting at the Hofburg will not take place on Friday. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen is becoming increasingly impatient. In an afternoon statement, the head of state urges the ability 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. The NEOS party board meeting is said to have lasted longer than planned. The same applies to the three-party talks, which are described as rather tough.

"It's About the Whole State"

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 needs 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's not about individual interests. It's about the whole state."

ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS Will Comment

In a joint statement from the ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS on Friday afternoon, it is stated that the words of the Federal President are being taken seriously. A meeting at the presidential office is not expected today. However, it is clear that there will be statements from the parties on the status of the talks later this evening. It is still unclear whether these will be given separately or jointly.

The fact that the NEOS could formally be included in a coalition again is reportedly the wish of both the ÖVP and the Vienna SPÖ. Many parts of 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 - during the failure of the first three-party negotiations.

Two Ministries for NEOS?

They are now said to have been offered two departments. These are reportedly education and foreign affairs. The core of the ÖVP ministries would include, in addition to the chancellery, the agendas for interior, defense, economy, and agriculture. The SPÖ would receive, among other things, finance, social affairs, infrastructure, and women's issues. Justice could land with the ÖVP, possibly with foreign affairs going to the NEOS instead. The appointment of the education department could be interesting, as the Vienna city councilor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) was actually the favorite. However, he is supposed to run as the top candidate in the state election in Vienna in two months.

As for 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. A corresponding meeting is likely to take place next Friday. This is not yet confirmed.

The difficulty in forming a government this time is also due to the limited scope for joint projects in light of the significant need for consolidation. Finance Minister Gunter Mayr now assumes a deficit of around 3.9 percent of economic output, as he explained on Friday in the budget committee of the National Council. The main reason is the negative development of the contribution from the states and municipalities, according to Mayr, as reported by the parliamentary correspondence. Wifo and IHS had already forecast a state budget deficit of 4.2 and 3.8 percent of GDP for 2025 in December.

FPÖ Wants New Elections

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." "Destruction of prosperity," "security chaos," and "illegal mass immigration" are what Schnedlitz expects. 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, some 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.

The NEOS' ideas on federal state reform, reduction of advertising expenses and party financing, objectification in appointments, and depoliticization of the ORF and social insurance committees remained largely on hold - 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 hold. In the health sector, they hit a wall with the demand for single-source financing of the public health system.

On the reduction of ancillary wage costs, NEOS and ÖVP were in agreement, 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' demands for pension reform, specifically linking the retirement age to life expectancy. Placing the entire education sector under federal competence and introducing a "middle maturity" also remained "on hold."

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 another concern that the NEOS could not push through.

Much also remained unresolved in the area of national defense, where it is not clear from the protocols who supported or opposed which demands. In the past, the NEOS have repeatedly stood out 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 three-party negotiations with the NEOS. The NEOS had harshly criticized the SPÖ and especially their leader Andreas Babler after the failure of the first talks, but open criticism of a possible 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 cooperation with the Greens. He was "irritated by the total rejection of the ÖVP towards the Greens." However, if no three-party coalition comes about, Black-Red would also have an absolute majority. Vorarlberg's SPÖ regional party chairman Mario Leiter would "even welcome" 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 now seems to be going "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. The Burgenland SPÖ chairman Hans Peter Doskozil, who had also repeatedly called 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 three-party 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 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 time 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.