Irreconcilable Differences

Austrian coalition talks collapsed Wednesday following disagreements between the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) over key posts and policies, raising the potential for early elections, Agence France-Presse reported.

On Wednesday, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl announced that the weeks of negotiations “were ultimately unsuccessful” despite trying to reach a series of concessions with the ÖVP.

Austria has been in political deadlock since the September parliamentary elections when the far-right group won the most votes but not enough for a majority.

The long-ruling ÖVP initially tried to form a ruling coalition with the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the liberal New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS), but those talks failed in early January, prompting then-Chancellor Karl Nehammer to resign, Euractiv noted.

Afterward, the FPÖ and ÖVP attempted to form a coalition, which – if successful – would have led to Austria’s first far-right-led government since World War II.

But disagreements between the two parties emerged last week after Kickl insisted that his party should hold the interior and finance ministries – demands the ÖVP has rejected, among others.

Other points of contention included European Union policy, the treatment of asylum seekers, and the FPÖ’s stance on Russia – the far-right party has criticized EU sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

The collapse of talks could result in two outcomes: The ÖVP could restart coalition talks with other parties, or it could call new elections.

Calling new elections would benefit the FPÖ because the far-right party is leading the polls with 35 percent, while the ÖVP has dropped to third place with 18 percent.