Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) leader Herbert Kickl has called on the conservative People’s Party (OVP) to be “honest” in their coalition talks, threatening a snap election if negotiations prove tough. The FPO won the last parliamentary election with 29% of the vote but was initially excluded from centrist coalitions.
Kickl wants open and transparent discussions, warning that his party will walk away if there are “no little games, no tricks, or sabotage.” This comes as opinion polls show FPO support has risen since September, while OVP support has fallen by over 10 percentage points.
The main sticking point in coalition talks is reducing the budget deficit within the EU’s 3% limit. The FPO and OVP prefer to trim government spending rather than raise taxes, but are wary of cutting big-ticket items like pensions.
Kickl has extended an invitation for talks to begin with the OVP, his only potential coalition partner, after party leadership signs off on the move. If negotiations fail, Kickl warns that a snap election could be called, potentially leading to changes in Austria’s government.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austrian-far-right-leader-invite-conservatives-hold-coalition-talks-2025-01-07