Austria’s far-right led coalition talks set to start, 1000’s protest

By Francois Murphy

VIENNA (Reuters) – Talks to type a coalition authorities led by Austria’s far-right Freedom Celebration (FPO) will start on Friday, the celebration stated on Thursday, as 1000’s protested in Vienna in opposition to the prospect of the nation’s first FPO-led authorities.

The eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO received September’s parliamentary election with round 29% of the vote however was initially sidelined as centrist events tried to type a ruling coalition with out it. That effort failed on the weekend, and FPO chief Herbert Kickl was tasked with forming a authorities.

“First step: negotiations on the finances as of tomorrow,” Kickl stated in a press release on Thursday night whereas protesters carrying placards studying “Nazis out” and “Historical past is repeating itself” gathered within the sq. that stands between the places of work of the president and the chancellor.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the conservative Folks’s Celebration (OVP), who had led the centrist coalition talks, stated on Saturday he was stepping down as a result of that they had collapsed. His successor as head of the caretaker authorities, International Minister Alexander Schallenberg, is because of take over on Friday.

Varied non-governmental organisations that take care of human rights, refugees and the atmosphere known as Thursday’s protest, Thursday being the day for demonstrations when the FPO was in energy as a junior coalition accomplice – its solely expertise of presidency – most not too long ago with the OVP in 2019.

“Our republic is at a crossroads,” the organisers stated in a press release. “The specter of an excessive right-wing chancellor looms and with him an assault on democracy, human rights, judiciary, impartial media and social cohesion in our nation.”

Greater than 10,000 protesters packed tightly collectively on the sq. and streets main into it whistled, jeered and shone their telephone lights in the direction of the chancellor’s workplace, chanting “Kickl out” in a peaceable environment.

The OVP, which below Nehammer stated it could not govern with Kickl, calling him a conspiracy theorist and a safety menace, now says below interim chief Christian Stocker that it prefers to succeed in a coalition take care of Kickl to holding a snap election.

On Wednesday, nevertheless, Stocker stated he demanded assurances from Kickl that he desires to maintain Austria free from Russian interference – a reference to FPO positions together with opposing sanctions in opposition to Moscow over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Assist for the FPO has solely elevated since September, polls present, and the celebration now has a lead of greater than 10 share factors over the OVP.

“We’re coming into negoatiations with the FPO,” the OVP stated in a press release minutes earlier than the FPO’s, confirming that Kickl and Stocker had held preliminary discussions and that the primary difficulty could be the finances.

“For us, a very powerful cornerstones are Austria’s sovereignty in opposition to international affect, particularly from Russia, Austria as a dependable accomplice within the EU and our western liberal democracy based mostly on the rule of regulation,” it stated.