The new government replaces the conservative-Green coalition that had governed the country since 2019.

On Monday, the coalition between the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), and the New Austria Party (NEOS) assumed office.

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This comes 154 days after the legislative elections on September 29, in which the ultranationalist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) emerged as the most voted political force nationwide, with 28.8%.

Led by conservative Christian Stocker, the 21 members of the new cabinet were sworn in before the country’s president, ecologist Alexander Van der Bellen, in a live televised ceremony from the Hofburg Palace, the seat of the presidency.

Out of the 183 seats in Parliament, the governing coalition holds 110 seats (51 from the ÖVP, 41 from the SPÖ, and 18 from NEOS), while the opposition consists of the far-right FPÖ, led by Herbert Kickl, with 57 deputies, and the Greens (ecologists), with 16.

“Good things come to those who wait,” said Van der Bellen, referring to the arduous negotiations required to reach a government agreement. With two failed attempts, they were the longest negotiations on record.

The head of state expressed satisfaction that the three parties were able to overcome their differences, “put the country’s interests ahead of party interests, and reach compromises.”

Now, “there is much to be done: first and foremost,” added the president, emphasizing the urgent need to “ensure peace in Europe,” as well as “strengthen liberal democracy,” achieve economic stability, and guarantee social cohesion and security.

The new government replaces the conservative-Green coalition that had governed the country since 2019. ÖVP leader Stocker is the new Federal Chancellor, while SPÖ leader Andreas Babler serves as Vice Chancellor and Minister of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media, and Sports. Meanwhile, the NEOS president is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The conservatives will oversee six ministries, including Interior, Defense, and Agriculture, while the SPÖ will manage another six, including Finance and Justice. NEOS will lead the ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs. The team is completed by seven state secretaries.

Negotiations for a three-party coalition began after the far-right’s victory but collapsed in early January when NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger announced that her party was withdrawing from talks with the ÖVP and SPÖ due to a lack of reforms.

Following NEOS’ withdrawal, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl was tasked by Van der Bellen with forming a government, an attempt he pursued with the ÖVP, the only parliamentary force willing to work with the far-right. However, those negotiations also collapsed due to a lack of agreements, particularly on foreign and European policy, as well as the distribution of ministerial portfolios.

After this second failure, the ÖVP resumed talks with the SPÖ and NEOS, which this time successfully reached a government agreement, marking the first three-party coalition since 1949.

The new government aims to govern for the next five years, with the objectives of pulling the country out of recession, reducing illegal immigration, and curbing the rise of far-right populism in Austria.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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