Red-blue alliance? – Doskozil and Kickl shoot sharply against “Zuckerl”

Doskozil was annoyed by the coalition negotiations: “I am happy that what was partially announced did not happen and that there is a break in the negotiations at Christmas and people are going on holiday.”

SPÖ government participation for Doskozil “not appropriate”
He again addressed his own party with his incomprehension as to why the SPÖ sees itself as a third party with government responsibility – this would be “not appropriate”.

The coalition negotiations between ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS continued on Wednesday – in a medium-sized group and without a media event or any other communication planned. According to reports, the talks are likely to remain quite tough. The sticking point was still the path and pace of fiscal consolidation.

ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS: Clarity on the budget restructuring is the goal by Friday
Those close to the negotiating parties said this was the goal and that it was at least conceivable that clarity on the consolidation issue would come this week. Just as at the press conference between the three party leaders on Tuesday, it was emphasized that they intend to continue negotiations in different constellations during the Christmas holidays and also after the New Year.

The fact that the negotiators now want to continue talking to each other during the holidays shows how difficult the negotiations are, Doskozil said on the sidelines of a press conference. However, the debate over the national debt is an “unspeakable spectacle”.

Doskozil sees a 50:50 chance of ‘Zuckerl’
He himself is responsible for the finances in Burgenland: “No one can explain to me that a Minister of Finance and a Chancellor are not aware of the current and feared deficit and have to wait for feedback from Brussels. It’s so ridiculous. I wonder what people have done in recent years if they don’t know that.” He further complained that it was also “irresponsible” for the Minister of Finance to know nothing about the budget and distribute money in negotiations on financial equalization. The tripartite coalition is not yet definitive; he estimates the chance of this at 50:50.

Consolidating the budget is now the job of the federal government, dragging the states into the federal government’s dilemma is not fair and shifting funding to the states – Burgenland will not be ready for that, the state governor emphasized . He demanded that the federal government now send clear signals about savings on itself: “Ten ministries would be enough, and a human resources department for personnel management would be possible. But something like that is certainly not being considered.”

Kickl: “Loser grumbles”
FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl called on Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen via social media to comment on the government negotiations. The “loser grumbling you ordered” has been going on for weeks without any results. Van der Bellen must reveal his plan B if it fails, according to the blue frontman.

VdB does not respond to Kickl’s requests
The person addressed did not respond, but posted information about the exchange to the heads of the trade union and the Chamber of Commerce, Wolfgang Katzian (SPÖ) and Harald Mahrer (ÖVP). “I think it is important to hear the assessment of the social partners during the ongoing coalition negotiations,” says Van der Bellen: “Their work is a valuable basis for the consensus-oriented weighing of interests and mutual interaction in our liberal democracy. .”

Red-blue in Burgenland would increase the pressure on Babler
A new state parliament will be elected in Burgenland on January 16, 2025. According to a new survey, the Doskozil-SPÖ loses its absolute majority, but remains clearly in first place. The FPÖ overtakes the ÖVP and the Greens barely reach the state parliament. Missing NEOS and the Common Sense list. In the hypothetical direct election for governor of the state, Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) is clearly in the lead, ahead of FPÖ main candidate Norbert Hofer. Yet it is quite possible that a red-blue coalition will emerge after the elections. This would especially increase pressure on Andreas Babler, the leader of the federal SPÖ party, who is not necessarily considered a big Doskozil fan.