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AUSTRIA-POLITICS
Austria conservatives, Greens to enter coalition negotiations
VIENNA, Nov 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Austria’s Sebastian Kurz announced Monday
his conservatives would enter exclusive coalition talks with the Green party,
taking a step closer to forming a government following a September election.
In an apparent about-turn after Kurz’s previous administration with the
far-right came crashing down, the 33-year-old said his People’s Party (OeVP)
“will enter negotiations with the Greens”.
But he warned of a “challenging process” ahead as the two parties with
divergent platforms try to close gaps.
Green party leader Werner Kogler announced Sunday that his party had
approved the move to enter formal talks, bringing it closer to a potentially
historic entry into government.
The OeVP and the Greens made the biggest gains in parliamentary elections
held in late September with the conservatives emerging as the strongest
party, leading to Kurz to be tasked to form another government.
If a coalition were to be formed between the two parties, it would be the
first time for the Greens to enter government in Austria at the national
level.
Kurz’s previous government was brought down in May when the so-called
“Ibiza-gate” corruption scandal engulfed his ally, the far-right Freedom
Party (FPOe), after just 18 months in government together.
The FPOe suffered heavy losses during the September election, while the
Greens made big gains due to the environment becoming the top voter concern.
BSS/AFP/RY/1530 hrs