'Volkskanzler' averted. Now what?
17 February 2025
141 days after the last election, Austria still hasn't formed a new government. And it doesn't look like it'll change anytime soon. Actually, Austria finds itself in an unprecedented situation: first, coalition talks between the conservatives, social democrats, and liberals failed.
Now, last Wednesday, coalition talks between the conservatives and far-right FPÖ also failed. With that, Austria, for now, escaped the threat of a far-right leader, Herbert Kickl, becoming the Chancellor, or 'Volkskanzler' as he calls himself. The looming question is what options to form a government are left.
 | Theresa Adelmann With no solution in sight, Austrians, myself included, are becoming irritated and anxious. As both rounds of negotiations failed due to the parties refusing to make concessions, Austria's president, Alexander van der Bellen, called upon them to make room for compromise. It feels like he's a dog-sitter trying to get five puppies to behave. In Austria, we all hope they grow out of their rebellious phase soon. |
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