The decision of the president of the Austrian Republic Alexander van der Belen not to give the mandate to form a government to the first party of last September’s elections, namely the far-right Free Party (FPÖ) was not just a political novelty, but perhaps also a big risk, as it is now proving. The mandate was given to the until now chancellor and head of the center-right People’s Party (ÖVP), Karl Nehammer, who is trying to find common ground, both with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and with the relatively new liberal NEOS.

Differences of position and mentality

The task ultimately turns out to be more difficult than those who counted on Austria to have a government before the turn of time had hoped. It is not only the significant differences that exist on issues of the welfare state between the SPÖ and the NEOS, which seem even more chaotic against the background of the poor state of the state’s finances. There is also the bad… example of the three-party government, which recently collapsed in Germany, mainly because of such issues.

There is also the enormous political pressure exerted by the extreme right, which continues to speak of a “coalition of losers”, who are simply trying to keep the first party out of power. This reinforces the obligation of the three parties, which are now negotiating, to show “something different”, to give the impression that they have as their goal the renewal of political life, which in the past was stigmatized by old partisanship and favoritism. The attacks are of course also directed towards the president of the Republic himself, who is reminded that he comes from the Greens.

They are rubbing their hands in the FPÖ with the polls

Santa Claus therefore did not bring any new government, although the negotiations continued in the intervening period of the holidays. The only ones who seem to be entering the new year with a big gift in their hands are the Liberals, who apparently see their continued rise in the polls as such. It is no coincidence that in the elections held in the state of Styria (Graz) at the end of November, the FPÖ took first place for the first time in history, doubling its percentage from 17% to almost 35%. After Carinthia, it is the second Austrian state, in which they “took a head” and are negotiating with the People’s Party for the formation of a government.

Their only problem is Kikl

It should be noted that the FPÖ already participates in five of the local governments of the country’s nine states. In four of these cases the deals were closed within the last two years. This is significant because at this very time the chairman of the party is Herbert Kickle, a former Home Secretary, who is seen as tougher than other party officials. Nehammer’s Christian Democrats have repeatedly made it a condition to cooperate with the Liberals that Kikl does not participate in such a government. A term that both he and his party find very difficult to accept after their electoral victory.

The populist leader could of course make a “dribble” at the center-right, declaring that he is resigning from ministerial positions. After all, on many issues, both the economy and immigration, the positions of the FPÖ and the ÖVP are quite “close”. But it seems that Kikl prefers to let the other parties wear out with endless consultations, which are interpreted by the society as an attempt to form a government “by force” and he himself reaps the popular discontent, expecting a better result for the next ones elections, whenever they take place. However, immediate early elections are something that everyone wants to avoid at this stage.

The “resurrection” of Sebastian Kurz

In the midst of all the stagnation, however, some decided to politically “resurrect” Sebastian Kurz, the once “terrible child” of Christian Democracy, and former chancellor, who had left amid scandals. Those who have not forgotten him argue that he could return to the leadership of the People’s Party and lead it to another victory, if necessary working again with Kickl, as he had done in the past. There are voices within the ÖVP who do not see such a prospect as bad. Kurz himself, however, proclaims that he has no interest in returning to Austrian politics.