Austria's far-right party calls for new election after coalition talks collapse

Austria's far-right Freedom Party is calling for a new general election after talks about forming a coalition government broke down this week.

The Freedom Party, or FPO, which narrowly won a general election in September, had been negotiating with potential suitors ever since about forming a coalition government.

But the failure of talks with the People's Party, or OVP, on Wednesday followed earlier overtures to the Social Democrats and liberal NEOS parties about the possibility of forming a three-party coalition.

The FPO had also considered a two-party coalition with the Social Democrats that also failed to materialize.

After the failed attempts, FPO leader Herbert Kickl said on Wednesday there is now no choice other than to hold a new general election, which his populist party will try to win with a clear majority, so it can govern without junior partners.

"Although we made concessions to the OVP on many points, they were not prepared to make decisive compromises," Kickl said in a written statement.

However, OVP leader Christian Stocker placed the blame on the FPO, telling Austrian news agency APA that "it became clear during the talks that no agreement could be reached on the core principles the People's Party had established before negotiations began."

Experts said the parties could not agree on who should serve in key ministerial roles, including at the interior ministry.

Vote tally

Kickl's party took 28.8 percent of the vote in September's election, just ahead of the OVP, which secured 26.3 percent support.

Despite the FPO's election win, President Alexander Van der Bellen controversially initially invited then chancellor Karl Nehammer's OVP to form a coalition government. When Nehammer admitted he had failed to do so and resigned in January, Kickl's FPO was invited to try.

With the two largest parties having now both tried and failed to form a coalition government, a new general election is the only way forward, Kickl said.

Current opinion polls suggest the FPO would increase its haul of lawmakers if such a poll is held.

But Van der Bellen made a live televised national address on Wednesday evening to say he actually has four options, which include the new election Kickl favors, as well as allowing a party to form a minority government, inviting unelected experts to form a government, and instructing Austria's political parties to continue negotiating to try to form a coalition government.

"In the coming days, I will, therefore, hold discussions with politicians in order to determine which of those four options could be successful, as quickly as possible, for as long as necessary," he said.

APA reported that leaders of the Social Democrats, the NEOS party and the Greens have shown openness to new coalition talks.

If the FPO manages to form a government, it will be the first time the far right has ruled in Austria since World War II.

Xinhua contributed to this story.