Three major political parties in Austria have announced an agreement to form a new government that excludes the far-right Freedom Party, concluding months of uncertain negotiations following last fall’s elections.

The coalition is expected to reveal ministerial positions on Friday, with Christian Stocker, leader of the People’s Party—the largest partner in the coalition—slated to become the new chancellor.

The upcoming government aims to unite left- and right-of-center parties, intentionally omitting the Freedom Party, which took the lead in the September vote. This party, rooted in the 1950s by former Nazi soldiers, had sought to capitalize on an anti-immigrant and anti-Islam platform to join a growing trend of right-wing parties taking control in Europe.

Initially, the mainstream parties attempted to form a government without the Freedom Party but failed. Subsequently, the People’s Party negotiated with the Freedom Party to potentially position Herbert Kickl, the far-right party’s vocal leader, as chancellor. However, these discussions also fell apart, leading to the recent agreement among the mainstream parties.

On Thursday, the People’s Party, the Austrian Social Democrats, and the liberal NEOS party unveiled a 200-page governance plan for the next four years. The plan prioritizes budget and economic measures, while also addressing migration reform and proposing a headscarf ban for young girls, hinting at the influence of the Freedom Party’s agenda.

Since the elections, the far-right has surged in popularity, currently polling at nearly 35 percent. The success of this coalition could be pivotal, as the far-right stands to gain significant power should the coalition dissolve.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/world/europe/austria-government.html