Following the failure of outgoing Chancellor Karl Neuhammer to form a government coalition between the People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the liberal NEOS, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen recently gave the mandate to form a government in Austria to the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and winner of last year’s elections September Herbert Kickl.

“I may have certain wishes, but respect for the voters requires that I accept this majority,” said Greens Mr. Van der Bellen, who had been criticized for his decision to award the first investigative mandate to the second party (ÖVP). The federal president stated that it is now the constitutional duty of Mr. Kikl “to explore the possibilities of a government with a percentage greater than 50% and the ÖVP is the only one that offers this possibility”, however he emphasized at the same time that “an Austrian government should in any case respect certain basic pillars: rule of law, discrimination of powers, human and minority rights, free and independent media and EU membership’.

Interim chairman of the People’s Party, Christian Stocker, has already indicated a willingness to negotiate with the Freedom Party.

Hundreds of citizens had gathered outside the Hofburg presidential palace, protesting the possibility of a far-right government being formed.