नवीनतम
Austrian Prez to meet Freedom Party leader over govt formation
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said that he would meet the Freedom Party' leader Herbert Kickl on Monday to discuss the formation of a new government while the conservative People's Party softened its stance, saying it is now open to talks with the far-right party.
The move came after the collapse of three-party coalition talks among the People's Party, the Social Democratic Party and the NEOS party and later the failure of two-party negotiations following the NEOS' withdrawal, Xinhua news agency reported.
On Saturday, Karl Nehammer announced his resignation as chancellor of the Austrian caretaker government and chairman of the People's Party after the coalition talks fell apart. Van der Bellen has said that he would appoint an interim chancellor in the coming week.
Nehammer had repeatedly ruled out the possibility of a coalition with the Freedom Party under Kickl's leadership after the far-right party came first in Austria's parliamentary election in September.
Van der Bellen said on Sunday he was informed by Nehammer that "the voices within the People's Party that rule out cooperation with Kickl have become quieter," which opens up the path for a coalition between the People's Party and the Freedom Party.
