Thu Feb 27 09:41:41 UTC 2025: ## Austria Forms Centrist Coalition Government After Far-Right Fails

**Vienna, Austria** – Austria has formed a new centrist government after weeks of political deadlock, ending the far-right Freedom Party’s (FPOe) attempt to take power. The coalition, a surprising turn of events, unites the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the centre-left Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal Neos party.

The agreement, reached on February 27th, 2025, follows two weeks of negotiations and a record-breaking 129-day period without a functioning government since the September elections. The ÖVP’s Christian Stocker, unexpectedly taking the helm as Chancellor, described the negotiations as “perhaps the most difficult in the history of our country.”

The coalition’s platform addresses pressing issues including the war in Ukraine, Austria’s economic woes (including a recession and budget deficit), and rising migration. Key policies include stricter asylum rules, the establishment of “return centers” for rejected asylum seekers, a potential asylum freeze, and a mandatory integration program for asylum seekers. A headscarf ban for girls under 14 is also under consideration. To address the budget crisis, the coalition plans a levy on banks. Furthermore, the government intends to combat extremism and hold social media platforms more accountable.

The deal marks a significant setback for the FPOe, which emerged as the strongest party in the September elections with 28.8% of the vote. Their leader, Herbert Kickl, criticized the new coalition, calling it “the most expensive government of all times” with “the worst program of all times.” His attempt to form a government with the ÖVP ultimately failed in February.

The new coalition, while having a slim majority in parliament, is committed to the European Union and its initiatives, including the European Sky Shield. The agreement still requires formal approval from the leadership of the ÖVP and SPÖ, and a two-thirds majority of Neos members, expected by Sunday. The outgoing caretaker government will remain in place until the transition is complete.

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