Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl with forming a government. He did not take this step lightly, the head of state explained after an hour-long conversation with the Freedom Party chairman. But respect for the voters’ vote requires that the Federal President respect majorities in the National Council. Van der Bellen pointed to the changed situation by saying that the ÖVP was now ready to negotiate a coalition with the FPÖ, even under Kickl. The FPÖ leader believes he can find viable solutions “and he wants this responsibility,” the Federal President explained in his short statement.
