The smallest partner of a prospective three-party coalition, the liberal Neos party, decided not to continue the discussions to form a new government.
Talks to form a new government in Austria have collapsed after the smallest of the prospective partners, the liberal Neos party, pulled out of negotiations.
Neos, alongside Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian People’s Party and the centre left Social Democrats had been trying to forge a three-party ruling coalition after far-right Freedom Party won national elections in September.
Neos head, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, said that it had not been possible to make progress or agree on “fundamental reforms” and that she had informed the other party leaders that Neos members “won’t continue” talks.
Talks had dragged on after all other parties refused to work with the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), Herbert Kickl, who came first with 29.2% of the vote, forcing them to find a coalition agreement with smaller majorities.
Nehammer’s party and the Social Democrats now have the barest possible majority in parliament if they are to govern together — with 92 seats out of 183.
