Vienna: Austria’s far-right FPOe party on Tuesday agreed to enter talks on forming a coalition government with incoming chancellor Sebastian Kurz, offering a fresh boost to populist parties in Europe. The conservative chancellor, 31, invited the FPOe (Freedom Party) for talks, paving the way for the party to return to power nearly two decades after it last entered government in 2000.
“We have accepted this invitation,” said FPOe leader Heinz-Christian Strache. His party came third in elections on October 15.
Kurz earlier said that “very constructive” preliminary talks had already been held between his People’s Party (OeVP) and the FPOe.
He said he hoped an agreement would be reached by Christmas.
“Austria deserves to have a stable government formed quickly,” he said.
Kurz, nicknamed “wunderwuzzi” (“whizz-kid”), took over the conservative OeVP in May. He attracted supporters by depicting himself as a breath of fresh air, talking tough on immigration and vowing to slash taxes and red tape.
The OeVP won 31.5 per cent of October 15’s vote, followed by the centre-left Social Democrats on 26.9 per cent.
Their leader Christian Kern is preparing his party to lead the opposition.
The FPOe, which has long been critical of the European Union, came a close third with 26.0 per cent, just short of its 1999 record of 26.9 per cent under Haider.
Kurz, who is set to become the world’s youngest leader, on Tuesday insisted a “clear pro-Europe orientation” was a prerequisite for entering a coalition with his party.
He said last week he expected Austria to play an “active” role in the EU, but Strache did not immediately address those comments. — AFP
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