Coalition govt reached in Austria signals shift to right
BERLIN — Conservative and nationalist parties in Austria reached a deal on Friday to form a new coalition government that will shift the country to the right and make 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz Europe’s youngest leader.
Kurz’s conservative Austrian People’s Party finished first in the country’s Oct. 15 election. It then embarked on coalition talks with the right-wing Freedom Party, led by Heinz-Christian Strache.
The two leaders gave few details late Friday as they announced their agreement in Vienna, saying they would talk at greater length after presenting their plans to President Alexander Van der Bellen on Saturday. They took no questions from reporters.
Kurz, who will be the new chancellor, said the new government would work to reduce Austrians’ tax burden, strengthen the economy and “above all, we want to ensure more security in our country, including by fighting illegal immigration.”