Vorarlberg has a new state government: the coalition negotiations between the ÖVP and FPÖ have been successfully completed. The most important points of the pact will be presented on Tuesday.
Apparently two have found each other! After intensive negotiations, the new state government was installed as expected; the ÖVP and the Freedom Party were able to agree on a joint government program. According to reports, the negotiations went smoothly and no major hurdles had to be overcome, especially in terms of content. Given that the two party programs are largely identical, this finding is not particularly surprising.
Party committees must approve the coalition pact
In the corridors of the country houses one heard that the negotiations about the division of departments were much tougher. On Monday morning the last open questions were clarified and at the beginning of the afternoon it was said: there is a fundamental agreement! The boards of the Vorarlberg People’s Party and the Freedom Party unanimously confirmed the coalition memorandum that had been drawn up since October 21 on Monday evening.
Not a word came out
In general, everyone involved behaved in an extremely disciplined manner. Unlike previous coalition talks, no details of the negotiated package have been made public. State Governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP) and FPÖ state leader Christof Bitschi will present the main points of the government program on Tuesday morning – in time for the constituent session of the new state parliament on Wednesday. All outstanding personnel questions will then be answered. What will be especially exciting will be the division of the departments agreed upon by the ÖVP and FPÖ.
In Vorarlberg, the state government – as defined in the state constitution – consists of seven people. The Vorarlberg ÖVP has never had fewer than five state councilors in its history (including the state governor). From a purely mathematical point of view – the ÖVP achieved a vote share of 38.30 percent in the October state elections, the FPÖ 28.00 percent – the Freedom Party would be entitled to three of the seven seats. One option, especially for the ÖVP, was to offer the FPÖ two state councilors and, instead of a third seat, the post of state governor (deputy state governor). It is very likely that the allocation of “desirable departments” also influenced the distribution of seats.
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.
