Everything against Kickl – As soon as the results are in, the coalition battle rages

Even though the official final results are still a long time coming, the winner of the evening’s election is still Herbert Kickl. In a first response to ORF, the FPÖ leader was clearly satisfied with the best result in the party’s history in the National Council elections. He thanked voters “for their optimism, courage and trust.” The voters “have spoken their word,” meaning his party does not need to change its position.

Kickl: “There is already a lot of talk”
The parties that have ruled out a coalition with him as a person – especially the ÖVP and SPÖ – must be asked “what they think about democracy”. And further: “If historically bad results are achieved, you cannot have done everything right.”

But anyway, he didn’t want to fully believe that Karl Nehammer had rejected him on election night. “There has been so much talk, especially from the ÖVP.” This cannot “create itself like this and say we have learned something and then continue as before”. One thing is clear to Kickl: “Our hand is stretched out in all directions.” What is now important is what Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen does now and whether he respects the ‘beauty of the constitution’.

Nehammer does not want to support “Kickl methods”.
ÖVP leader Karl Nehammer, who, like SPÖ boss Andreas Babler, had definitely ruled out a coalition with a Kickl-FPÖ, was slightly more reserved on election night. He said he would not support “Kickl’s political methods” but that “the concerns of the voters who voted for the FPÖ must be taken seriously.”

Andreas Babler, who entered the race with great ambitions, suffered a historic defeat with the SPÖ. He was visibly dissatisfied: “The result of social democracy is not what you would hope for.”

Regarding possible personal consequences, Babler said: “I am known for remaining steadfast in difficult situations.” His hand has been extended to the ÖVP for a possible coalition – even though Babler would have liked “a stronger voter mandate” to support. the SPÖ maintains demands. Now it is mainly about ‘stable conditions’ in Austria. The SPÖ is ready for exploratory talks; he has already “made arrangements”.

SPÖ and ÖVP probably need junior partners
But at the moment, if the SPÖ and ÖVP were to work together, there would only be a narrow majority in parliament – ​​so they will probably look for a junior partner. Currently, only NEOS and the Greens are eligible; neither the KPÖ nor the Beer Party will enter the National Council.

Previous Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler emphasized the government experience of his Greens. “Of course we would have preferred a better result” in order to be able to argue for climate protection and nature conservation in the next cabinet. Nevertheless, the question now remains “how this country should continue to be governed. “We want to make our contribution,” Kogler did not rule out further government participation. But he also emphasized: “At least I can be an opposition.”

NEOS: “We are ready”
Beate Meinl-Reisinger was very pleased, the NEOS were able to overtake the Greens and are currently in fourth place. “I am very happy with our result.” Both the votes for NEOS and the FPÖ showed that Austrians want change. However, only the pink ones could bring about positive change. ‘We stand for reforms.’ She also sees the result as a mandate: ‘We are ready for it.’

On election night she had a clear message to the second party with a plus before the result, the FPÖ or its party leader Herbert Kickl: ‘I don’t want you in the government. I just don’t think this is good for our country.” She herself is ready for exploratory talks, but not with the FPÖ. Meinl-Reisinger also warned about the mood prevailing among journalists under the FPÖ – for example an attack on a Puls24 reporter during the Blue Party’s election final on Friday.