Negotiations between Austria’s ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos have ended in failure, leaving the country without a viable traffic light coalition. The failure highlights deep divides between the parties, particularly over issues related to the economy and taxes.
Austria’s Efforts to Form a Traffic Light Coalition Collapse
Austria is facing political uncertainty after the negotiations between the ÖVP (People’s Party), SPÖ (Social Democrats), and Neos (Liberals) ended in failure. On Friday morning, Neos announced the collapse of the talks, citing irreconcilable differences among the parties. The negotiations had stretched late into Thursday night, but ultimately, the parties could not reach an agreement.
A Difficult Starting Point Following the National Council Elections
The collapse of the coalition talks comes after Austria’s National Council elections in September, which saw significant shifts in the political landscape. The far-right FPÖ (Freedom Party) emerged as the strongest party, securing 28.85% of the vote. The ÖVP followed with 26.3%, and the SPÖ received 21.1%. Despite this, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl failed to find a coalition partner, forcing the ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos to negotiate a potential alliance without the FPÖ.
Key Issues and Divides Between the Parties
The coalition negotiations were marked by significant disagreements, particularly over economic and tax policies. Disputes became especially heated over how to address these issues, with ÖVP leader Karl Nehammer threatening to walk away from the talks if progress was not made. The differences between the parties ultimately proved too large to overcome.
A Traffic Light Coalition Remains Unlikely for Now
The failure of the talks underscores the deep divides between Austria’s leading political parties. A traffic light coalition, which would have united the ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos, now seems an unrealistic prospect. The country remains without a clear path forward, as negotiations end with no agreement in sight.