Before the interview, Kickl and Van der Bellen posed for a photo together. The FPÖ leader said he had positive expectations for the appointment before going behind the wallpaper door with the Federal President. However, the relationship between the two was not necessarily a mutual understanding.
The question is still open whether Van der Bellen will give Kickl the task of forming a government. This usually goes to the leader of the party with the most votes, but according to the constitution the Federal President is under no obligation to do so. In the past, Van der Bellen announced that he would not automatically give the job to Kickl if the FPÖ won the election. So far all other parties have ruled out a coalition with the FPÖ under Kickl.
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Official final preliminary result
Conversations with “necessary calm”
For Van der Bellen, it was the third appearance after the National Council election after Sunday’s election speech and the symbolic resignation of the government. As part of the meeting on Wednesday, at which he also tasked the government to continue with the administration, the Federal President announced that he would first hold talks with all the chairmen – “with the necessary calm and with the necessary depth”.
APA/Helmut Fohringer
However, Kickl claims the chancellor for himself, whether Van der Bellen will allow this remains an open question
After the election, Van der Bellen emphasized that “the fundamental pillars of our liberal democracy must be respected when forming a government” – ie the rule of law, separation of powers, human and minority rights, independent media and EU membership. Kickl said he certainly had “common ground” with Van der Bellen;
Blue negotiation team standing
The negotiating team is blue for determining any exploratory talks from Wednesday: In addition to Kickl, it includes the two general secretaries Michael Schnedlitz and Christian Hafenecker. Other members include club director Norbert Nemeth, spokesperson for foreign policy and neutrality Susanne Fürst as well as economic expert Arnold Schiefer and club chairman in the Lower Austrian state parliament, Reinhard Teufel.
debate
What would the participation of the FPÖ government mean?
Van der Bellen will receive the leaders of the other parties next week in order of strength of votes: on Monday it will be the turn of ÖVP leader Karl Nehammer and SPÖ leader Andreas Babler, followed on Tuesday by Neos leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger and the leader of the Green Alliance Werner. Kogler. Despite their electoral victory, the Greens want to play an “important role” in the audits, Kogler announced on Friday after his party’s extended federal executive committee.
Social Minister Johannes Rauch, Justice Minister Alma Zadic, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, club chairman Sigrid Maurer, general secretary Olga Voglauer and deputy party leader Stefan Kaineder are expected to negotiate with him . Kogler emphasized that they would not avoid government talks “hopefully sensibly”.
APA/Tobias Steinmaurer
Maurer, Kogler and Kaineder are part of the seven-man negotiating team
The Greens practice hope
This is even more true since achievements such as reducing emissions would be at risk without its partner. Business and industry need to be brought on course for climate change. In any case, the Greens would be a better third partner than NEOS, Kaineder said. Although his party is for an ecological market economy, NEOS stands for a liberal-capitalist economic system.
Regarding the results of the election, Kogler said that boys are not as successful as they used to be. The Greens probably still have some catching up to do when it comes to modern communication methods. In addition, inflation and migration as the main issues never sit well with those in government – “certainly not for the Greens”. In any case, they have not given up hope of remaining in government. Zadic said everything is still open. The Greens are ready and have government experience. Viennese party leader Peter Kraus also saw opportunities. These are “very dynamic periods”.
Kickl was the first party leader to speak to Van der Bellen
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen received FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl at the Hofburg on Friday evening. A statement about this should not be made until Saturday morning, said Kickl, who emerged from the famous wallpaper door in the Hofburg after the conversation. As previously announced, the Federal President did not comment on the conversation with the chairman of the FPÖ for the time being.
Firmly against the President of the FPÖ National Council
The Greens are determined to prevent a liberal President of the National Council: “This office cannot fall into the hands of right-wing extremists and destroyers of democracy,” said the club’s chairman, Maurer. She is very concerned that the Second President of the National Council, Doris Bures (SPÖ), would also support the FPÖ candidate. It is not yet clear whether the Greens will nominate their own candidate.
Austria
Hofer: Don’t come back finishing second
At the FPÖ, the most likely candidates for the chairmanship of the National Council were the third President of the National Council Norbert Hofer and the Ombudsman Walter Rosenkranz, who could move back to the National Council. But now that Hofer, as it was known on Thursday, will run as the best blue candidate in the Burgenland state elections in January 2025, this choice is not fair. Hofer said that the support to stay in the presidency of the National Council “would be there”, but now there was an opportunity for him to return to Burgenland and that he was using it to “fulfill his dream in Burgenland”.