The new conservative Austrian leader is ready for coalition talks with the far right Politics news

In a major reversal, Christian Stoker said he would enter into coalition talks with the far right if invited to do so.

Austria’s conservatives said they were ready to enter negotiations with the far-right Freedom Party to form a new government, in a radical shift in policy after coalition talks with the Social Democrats and liberals. I collapsed.

The EU member state was plunged into political turmoil after conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday broke off talks to form a centrist government without the far-right, the party that received the largest number of votes in national elections held in September.

Following the collapse, Nehammer said he would step down as chancellor and head of the People’s Party in the coming days to enable an “orderly transition.” He has held both positions since late 2021.

At a Conservative leadership meeting on Sunday, Deputy General Secretary Christian Stocker was chosen as interim leader of the party.

Stocker has long reiterated Nehammer’s position that the VP will not govern with the far right, but he said the situation had now changed and that his party had allowed him to enter into coalition talks with the FPÖ if invited to do so.

“This country needs a stable government right now, and we cannot continue to waste time on campaigns or elections that we don’t hold,” Stoker said.

I expect that the leader of the party with the largest number of votes will be tasked with forming the next government. “If we are invited to these (coalition) talks, we will accept this invitation.”

Earlier on Sunday, Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen said he would meet Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl on Monday, amid growing speculation that he might ask the far-right politician to form a government.

Van der Bellen, the former leader of the left-wing Green Party who expressed reservations about Kickl taking over as chancellor, angered the Freedom Party by not asking him to form a government after the elections on the grounds that no other party was willing to join him in elections. coalition.

While he said the situation had now changed, Van der Bellen stopped short of saying he would ask Kickl to lead coalition talks. He is scheduled to meet Kickl at 11 a.m. (10:00 GMT) on Monday, and a new chancellor will be appointed temporarily next week, with Nehammer remaining in his position until then.

“Voices within the People’s Party ruling out cooperation with the Freedom Party of Austria under the leadership of Herbert Kickl have become quieter. This in turn means that a new path may be opened that did not exist before,” Van der Bellen said in an address to the nation.

Kickl received significant support in the September election, securing him Nearly 30 percent of the vote For the first time.

The conservative People’s Party came in second place with 26 percent, while the center-left Social Democrats got 21 percent.

The rise of the Freedom Party of Austria reflects a broader global trend, including the rise of prominent far-right figures in recent years, including in the United States, Argentina and Italy, among other countries.

The Freedom Party, which has never led a government in Austria, has called for tougher right-wing policies, including stricter border controls and the suspension of asylum through emergency legislation.

In addition, the party has proposed ending sanctions on Russia and has been vocal in its criticism of Western military aid to Ukraine.

The party also expressed interest in withdrawing from the European Sky Shield Initiative, a missile defense project initiated by Germany.

Kickl has often criticized “elites” in Brussels and called for some powers to be returned from the EU to Austria.

Stoker had previously described Kickel as a “security risk” to the country.