Austria has sworn in a new centrist coalition government, marking an end to five months of political instability. The coalition consists of the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), and the liberal NEOS party. ÖVP leader Christian Stocker has become chancellor, while SPÖ head Andreas Babler is his deputy.
The new alliance faces challenges in boosting Austria’s economy and reducing its large budget deficit. It has also agreed to implement stricter policies on migration, a controversial issue in the Alpine country. The coalition was formed after a previous bid failed, allowing for negotiations led by NEOS, which secured the final approval just hours before the swearing-in ceremony.
Without the centrist alliance, Austria would have likely faced snap elections, which could have seen the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) better its 29% of votes in September. The FPÖ leader, Herbert Kickl, has called for new elections after being forced onto the opposition benches despite his party’s win. This marks a significant shift as far-right populist parties are seeing a resurgence across Europe, with some currently in government in several countries, including Italy and Slovakia.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/austria-swears-in-centrist-coalition-without-far-right/a-71808326