Skip to main content

Austria Kurz seeks governing coalition with far right party

CONSERVATIVE Austrian People’s Party leader Sebastian Kurz said yesterday he would seek a governing coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FP).

He said FP leader Heinz-Christian Strache had shown “a will to bring about change in Austria together.”

Both campaigned on limiting immigration, deporting failed asylum-seekers and cracking down on Islamist extremists. A ban on the veil is already in place.

The PP overtook the Social Democrats in October 15’s parliamentary election, with the FP coming a close third.

On Friday, President Alexander Van der Bellen — the Green Party candidate who narrowly beat the FP’s Norbert Hofer in last year’s election — asked Mr Kurz to form a government.

Mr Kurz insisted a “basic condition” for a coalition is “a clear pro-European direction.

“Austria can only be strong if we are not just members of the European Union, but also actively help to strengthen the European Union,” he said.
 

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 9,899
We need:£ 8,101
12 Days remaining
Donate today