Three mainstream political parties in Austria have come to an agreement to form a new government that excludes the far-right Freedom Party, following five months of negotiations after an election last fall. The coalition is expected to announce ministerial posts on Friday, with Christian Stocker of the People’s Party likely becoming the new chancellor. The government will include left- and right-of-center parties, but the far-right party that finished first in the September vote will not be included.
The Freedom Party, which was founded by former Nazi soldiers in the 1950s and campaigned on platforms such as deporting immigrants and banning political forms of Islam, had been vying for power in a wave of hard-right parties in Europe. The mainstream parties initially refused to work with the Freedom Party and attempted to form a government without them, but those talks failed. Negotiations between the People’s Party and the Freedom Party also broke down, leading to a final effort by the mainstream parties to form a coalition.
The People’s Party, the Austrian Social Democrats, and the liberal NEOS party announced the coalition agreement and presented a 200-page plan for governing the country for the next four years. While the plan primarily focuses on the budget and economy, it also includes migration reform and proposes a head-scarf ban for young girls, a measure which echoes some of the policies of the far-right Freedom Party. The far-right party holds nearly 35 percent in current polls and could potentially benefit if the coalition fails.
The exclusion of the far-right Freedom Party from the new government marks a significant shift in Austrian politics and reflects the mainstream parties’ reluctance to work with a party linked to extremist views. The rise of far-right parties in Europe has been a cause for concern, and the mainstream parties’ decision to form a coalition without them highlights a commitment to more moderate and inclusive governance. The agreement between the three mainstream parties aims to provide stability and continuity in governance while addressing key issues such as the budget, economy, and migration reform.
The new government in Austria signals a departure from the far-right influence that has been gaining popularity in recent years. By coming to an agreement to form a coalition without the Freedom Party, the mainstream parties are sending a message of unity and moderation in the face of rising extremism. The inclusion of both left- and right-of-center parties in the government reflects a broad-based approach to governance that seeks to address the diverse needs of the Austrian population. The coalition’s focus on key policy areas such as the economy and migration reform demonstrates a commitment to addressing pressing issues while also potentially mitigating the influence of the far right in Austrian politics.
