Coalition talks between the ÖVP, SPÖ, and the Neos have failed in Austria.
The liberal party informed the negotiation partners and President Alexander Van der Bellen of its withdrawal from the talks in the morning, said Neos leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger on Friday morning in Vienna.
She had appealed to her own party to make compromises as well. However, this was not enough for a coalition, Meinl-Reisinger added. The main point of contention was likely pension policy. The three parties had negotiated until late at night on Thursday, but were unable to reach an agreement.
In the National Council election at the end of September, the right-wing populist FPÖ became the strongest force in parliament for the first time with 28 percent of the vote. The conservative ÖVP achieved 26 percent, followed by the social democratic SPÖ with 21 percent. However, neither the ÖVP led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer nor the SPÖ wanted to cooperate with FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. Consequently, ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos started coalition talks in November.