President Austria Alexander Van der Bellenwho is overseeing the formation of the country's new government, on Sunday recommended that political parties hold talks with each other after the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) won the parliamentary elections.
Although FPOe won the elections with the result 29,1 proc. – according to the exit poll – it did not obtain a majority in parliament.
– Now it's about getting closer to each other, talking to each other, negotiating to find good, solid compromises – the president exhorted. – Finding these solutions may take some time, but ladies and gentlemen, it is time well spent – he argued.
Van der Bellen also announced that will hold personal talks with party leaders.
Elections in Austria. The leader of the winning party is ready to form a government
After the announcement of the poll results, the leader of the right-wing populist FPOe Herbert Kickl declared that his party was ready to form a new government. – We are ready to create a new cabinet – he announced.
Other parties, however they categorically rule out joining a coalition with the Freedom Party. In response to these reports, Kickl said that members of other groups should consider “what they think about democracy.” Before the president's statement, the leader of the winning party was asked by journalists whether he thought the president would entrust him with the mission of forming a government. This one though refused to answer.
This year's elections in Austria are described as “the most important in Europe”. “FPOe's belligerent stance towards Brussels – its leaders are flirting with the idea of 'Öxit', Brexit in Austrian style – certainly will lead to greater tensions between the European Union and Vienna,” Politico said before the elections.
According to the media, if the Austrian Freedom Party wins, This will create a Central European bloc friendly to the Russian Federationwhich will make it easier Vladimir Putin “sowing discontent in the heart of Europe.”
Austrians voted. Five groups will sit in parliament
In Austria, voting for candidates for the National Council, the lower house of parliament, lasted until 5 p.m. on Sunday. After the premises close exit polls clearly indicated the victory of the nationalist FPOe – an anti-EU and pro-Russian party that focused its campaign on concerns about migration.
According to calculations, the party won 29,1 proc. votes, which may translate into 57 seats in the Council of 183 deputies. The next places were taken by: Austrian People's Party (OeVP) – 26.3 percent. and 52 seats, Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPOe) – 20.9 percent. and 40 seats, New Austria and the Liberal Forum (NEOS) – 8.8 percent. and 17 seats and the Greens – 8.7 percent. and 17 seats.
Four percent electoral threshold exceeded five of the 12 parties running in the elections.
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