Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has instructed far-right Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl to begin coalition talks to form a government with the Austrian People's Party following a meeting on 6 January.

Source : European Pravda

Details : Van der Bellen met with Kickl on Monday after coalition talks between three parties – the Austrian People's Party, the Social Democrats and the liberal NEOS party – ended in failure last week.

These three political forces had attempted to form a government, preventing the far-right Freedom Party, which won the elections three months ago, from taking power. But the attempt failed due to critical differences in their political programmes.

After the September elections, all the  parties in parliament ruled out forming a partnership with Kickl's Freedom Party. However, following the breakdown of coalition discussions, Austrian People's Party leader Karl Nehammer, who was strongly opposed to an alliance with Kickl, resigned.

The new party leader, Christian Stocker, has allowed for a possible alliance with the right-wing radicals, paving the way for the formation of a government composed of the Freedom Party and the Austrian People's Party.

"Kickl is confident that he can find a solution in the government negotiations, and he wants the responsibility," Van der Bellen said, explaining his decision to entrust Kickl with the task of forming the new federal government.

"I will make sure that the principles and provisions of the constitution are properly observed," the federal president added.

If the negotiations between the Freedom Party and the Austrian People's Party are successful, Austria will have a far-right chancellor for the first time in its history.

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