Austrian Centrist Parties Form Government, Excluding Far Right

• Feb 27, 2025

New Coalition Agreement Seeks to Bypass Freedom Party Despite Election Victory

Five months after Austria’s general election saw the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) emerge as the largest party, a coalition agreement between three centrist parties aims to keep it out of power.

The conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal Neos have finalized negotiations to form a new government, marking the conclusion of Austria’s longest-ever coalition talks—151 days after the September election.

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl dismissed the alliance as a “coalition of losers” and called for fresh elections.

Historic Coalition Takes Shape

The new three-party government, Austria’s first since the late 1940s, is set to take office next week if the agreement is approved by all party members. The biggest challenge lies in an upcoming vote by the Neos, where a two-thirds majority is required for final approval.

Christian Stocker of the ÖVP will serve as chancellor, leading the coalition alongside SPÖ leader Andreas Babler and Neos leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger. Stocker acknowledged the challenges of the negotiations, describing them as "perhaps the most difficult in our country’s history," but emphasized that the resulting agreement was not just a minimal compromise.

Key Policy Plans

The coalition’s program includes financial and immigration reforms. To avoid breaching European Union budget deficit limits, the government plans to introduce increased levies on banks. On asylum policy, the government will enforce stricter measures, including a temporary suspension of family reunifications.

Additional plans include:

• An "integration year" for refugees upon their arrival in Austria.
• A potential asylum freeze if application numbers rise significantly.
• A ban on headscarves for girls under 15.
• A commitment to strengthening Austria’s role within the EU.

FPÖ’s Exclusion and Political Fallout

Despite its historic election victory, the FPÖ was sidelined when Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen first gave the ÖVP the mandate to form a government. The leaders of all other parties had previously ruled out forming a coalition with Kickl.

The ÖVP’s first attempt to establish a coalition with the SPÖ and Neos collapsed in January, leading to Van der Bellen granting Kickl the chance to form a government. However, FPÖ’s talks with the conservatives later failed over disagreements regarding ministerial positions.

Political analyst Thomas Hofer noted that distrust between the parties prevented a deal. The ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos then resumed negotiations, ultimately reaching the current agreement.

Uncertain Road Ahead

While the coalition is now in place, Hofer believes its biggest challenge will be maintaining internal stability. “This is an emergency cabinet, formed quickly, and the main message so far is that they are not Herbert Kickl,” he explained. However, he warned that opposition from the FPÖ could strengthen over time.

Recent opinion polls suggest that if new elections were held, the Freedom Party could gain even more support.