Austrian nationalist party leader rumored to be in talks to form government

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen stated that he will hold a meeting with right-wing figure Herbert Kickl amidst speculation about inviting the Freedom Party chief to establish a new government.

Van der Bellen revealed his plan following discussions with Chancellor Karl Nehammer and additional officials at his presidential residence. Nehammer, who declared his decision to step down after coalition negotiations between his conservative Austrian People’s Party and the center-left Social Democrats broke down over financial matters.

Nehammer has opposed collaborating with Kickl. However, some members of his party are open to the idea. Earlier on Sunday, the People’s Party put forward its general secretary, Christian Stocker, as a temporary leader, though the president confirmed that Nehammer would retain his position as chancellor for the time being.

Van der Bellen said that he had spent several hours talking to key officials, after which he got the impression that “the voices within the People’s Party who exclude working with the Freedom Party under its leader Herbert Kickl have become quieter.”

The president said that this development has “potentially opened a new path,” which has prompted him to invite Kickl for a meeting on Monday morning.

Kickl’s Freedom Party topped the polls in the autumn’s national election with 29.2% of the vote, but Van der Bellen tasked Nehammer with putting together a new government because no other party was willing to work with Kickl.

That decision drew heavy criticism from the Freedom Party and its supporters, with Kickl saying in October that it was “not right and not logical” that he did not get a mandate to form a government.

“We are not responsible for the wasted time, the chaotic situation and the enormous breach of trust that has emerged,” Kickl said Sunday afternoon on social media. “On the contrary: It is clear that the Freedom Party has been and continues to be the only stable factor in Austrian politics.”

Austrian Peoples Partys headquarters, Vienna

Exterior view of the Austrian Peoples’ Party’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 05, 2025. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)

Stocker addressed reporters on Sunday afternoon and confirmed that he had been appointed “unanimously” by his party to serve as interim leader. “I am very honored and happy,” he said.

He also welcomed the decision by the president to meet with Kickl and said that he now expects that the leader of the party that emerged as the clear winner from the last election would be tasked with forming a government.

“If we are invited to negotiations to form a government, we will accept this invitation,” Stocker added.

In the past, Stocker has criticized Kickl, calling him a “security risk” for the country.

In its election program titled “Fortress Austria,” the Freedom Party calls for “remigration of uninvited foreigners,” for achieving a more “homogeneous” nation by tightly controlling borders and suspending the right to asylum via an emergency law.

The Freedom Party also calls for an end to sanctions against Russia, is highly critical of Western military aid to Ukraine and wants to bow out of the European Sky Shield Initiative, a missile defense project launched by Germany. The Freedom Party has also signed a friendship agreement in 2016 with Putin’s United Russia Party that it now claims has expired.

Kickl has criticized “elites” in Brussels and called for some powers to be brought back from the European Union to Austria.

Austria was thrown into political turmoil on Friday after the liberal party Neos pulled out of coalition talks with the the People’s Party and the Social Democrats. On Saturday the two remaining parties, who have only a one-seat majority in Parliament, made another attempt to form a government — but that also ended in failure after a few hours, with negotiators saying they were unable to agree on how to repair the budget deficit.

You May Also Like
Dolton, Illinois election results today: Democrat Jason House projected to replace Tiffany Henyard as Dolton mayor

Today’s election results in Dolton, Illinois: It is expected that Democratic candidate Jason House will take over as the new mayor of Dolton, succeeding Tiffany Henyard.

DOLTON (WLS) — Democrat Jason House is expected to win the Dolton…
Hospital's flippant response after TEN of its maternity nurses working in same ward develop brain tumors

Hospital makes light of situation after ten maternity nurses in the same ward get brain tumors.

A Massachusetts maternity ward has seen a spike in nurses diagnosed with…
Wednesday Morning Minute: Happy Liberation Day!

A Quick Update on Wednesday Morning: Celebrating Liberation Day!

TOP O’ THE MORNIN’ Red-Hot at RedState  Emotions cannot effectively govern a…
The full truth about Elon Musk's DOGE exit revealed by White House insiders: Why Trump is 'highly disappointed'... and 'Ice Maiden' Susie Wiles's relentless vendetta

Insiders at the White House share details on Elon Musk’s departure from DOGE: Trump expresses deep disappointment, while Susie Wiles continues her relentless pursuit.

The White House is working aggressively to refute a shocking report claiming…
Ohio State Highway Patrol investigating small plane crash, pilot dead

Investigation into small plane crash by Ohio State Highway Patrol, pilot fatalities reported

Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating after a small plane crashed in…
Speaker Johnson suffers a defeat in his push to block parents in the U.S. House from proxy voting

Speaker Johnson faces a setback in his attempt to prevent parents in the U.S. House from voting by proxy.

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson suffered a significant defeat on Tuesday…
American Airlines plane fills with smoke as it comes in to land forcing passengers to flee cabin

Passengers forced to evacuate as American Airlines plane fills with smoke during landing

An American Airlines plane filled with smoke shortly after it landed, forcing…
Tourist vanishes after leaving Utah airport to backpack in mountains

Tourist goes missing after leaving Utah airport to hike in mountains

Authorities in Utah are searching for a missing tourist visiting from Finland…
Chinese national smuggled illegal immigrants to American territory as US sees influx from adversary

Chinese National Smuggles Illegal Immigrants into US amid Rising Adversary Activity

A Chinese national has been sentenced to federal prison for exploiting a…
Meghan Markle reveals the eyebrow raising price of her jam

Meghan Markle shares the surprisingly high cost of her jam

Meghan Markle’s jam will cost up to £10.82 for a jar as…
'Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld' brings back legendary bounty hunter and former Sith assassin 

‘Revisit the Legendary Bounty Hunter in “Star Wars: Stories from the Underworld”‘

LOS ANGELES — Are you a fan of Star Wars and looking…
Leading Canadian conservative says Ottawa should remove all tariffs as 'Liberation Day' arrives

A prominent Canadian conservative suggests that Ottawa eliminate all tariffs as a way to celebrate ‘Liberation Day’.

In anticipation of President Donald Trump’s planned reciprocal tariffs labeled as “Liberation…