The discussions between the conservative ÖVP, the social democratic SPÖ, and the liberal Neos have been prolonged since the country's president in October tasked the conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) with forming a government. This is after the other parties opposed cooperation with the far-right party FPÖ, which received the most support in the national election in September.
ÖVP and SPÖ have previously ruled Austria but received the smallest possible majority in the parliament with a total of 92 out of 183 seats in the election in September, and therefore wanted to include another party, Neos, in a coalition.
Neos party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger announced on Friday, however, that her party is withdrawing from the talks. According to her, it has not been possible to make progress or reach an agreement on "fundamental reforms".
