Coalition talks between the Austrian People's Party (ANP) and the Austrian Social Democratic Party (ASDP) have failed, a statement from the ANP headquarters said, BTA reported.
„We have tried everything so far. It is not possible to reach an agreement on essential fundamental issues", said Austrian Chancellor, conservative Karl Nehammer and leader of the ANP in a video statement. In it, Nehammer says that in the coming days he will step down as leader of the ANP and as federal chancellor. „It was not possible to reach an agreement with the ANP on key issues. The negotiations have been suspended and will not be resumed,“ Nehammer said.
SPD leader Andreas Babler made a statement to the media in which he described the ANP's decision to break off the talks as “not good news for our country“.
But Nehammer said: "It is clear that destructive forces within the SPD have prevailed," DPA reported.
He stressed that his party would not agree to any program for governing the country that is hostile to the economy and economic achievements.
At the same time, Nehammer made it clear that he remains unprepared for coalition talks with the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (AFP) under Herbert Kickl. The party won the most votes in Austria's elections in September last year. "In my deep conviction, the radicals do not offer a solution to any problem," Nehamer said.
The failure of the negotiations came just a day after the two parties announced they would begin talks to form a government, after the liberal NEOS party withdrew from weeks-long coalition talks with the ANP and the ASDP.