After the election Sunday, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has now also spoken out. On election night, the head of state left it unclear who he would appoint to participate in the government.
Next week he will hold talks with all parties represented in the National Council. “Now it’s about approaching each other, finding solutions and making compromises. It may take a while, but it is time well spent,” said Van der Bellen.
“Discover who can collaborate with whom”
During the course of the week, the current federal government will offer him its resignation, after which Van der Bellen will instruct it to continue the administration, according to the further process. The subsequent discussions with parties are about “finding out who can work with whom”. And furthermore: “I will keep you informed in the coming weeks.”
He compared the phase of forming a government to the discipline of high jumping. “There is a 50 percent bar, and if you can’t get over that on your own, you have to convince others.” Other parties “just like the Federal President”.
Would Van der Bellen swear by Kickl?
In the past, Van der Bellen made people sit up and take notice by not necessarily tasking Kickl with forming a government, even if the FPÖ became the party with the highest number of votes. Today he emphasized that the appointment of the Chancellor and other ministers requires the confidence of the Federal President.
He will ensure ‘to the best of his knowledge and belief’ that only a government is appointed that does not undermine the ‘foundations on which we have built our prosperity’. These include human rights and media independence, but also membership of the EU. “No matter how structured, the goal (of the federal government’s next note) must be to guarantee a safe future for our children and grandchildren.”
“In principle, everyone can be happy”
Van der Bellen thanked all the people who exercised their right to vote, the evaluators and all those who put themselves forward as candidates today. “Some will be happier, others less so. But in principle everyone can be happy, because we live in a free democracy.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
