FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl had barely secured a government contract when the politician received his first rejection. If an FPÖ-ÖVP coalition is formed, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will no longer be available.
Schallenberg’s office said he “stands by his previous statements.” For example, the chief diplomat had previously said that he would not be a member of a federal government led by FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. This statement was made, among other things, in an interview with the “Press” in 2023.
The 55-year-old has been Austria’s foreign minister since 2019. In 2021, his term was briefly interrupted when he temporarily took over as head of government after Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) left office. He recently negotiated the foreign policy chapter in the coalition talks with the SPÖ and NEOS. It is unlikely that he will take part in the negotiations now.
Kickl himself sees “overlaps and close relations” between the programs of the FPÖ and ÖVP. So there is also potential for collaboration.
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.
