Far right to enter Austria's coalition government

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Europe

Two months after elections that saw Austria move to the right, the conservative party and the far-right agreed a coalition deal on Friday, capping a year of success for Europe's nationalists.

The accord between Sebastian Kurz's People's Party and the anti-immigration Freedom Party announced late Friday will see Kurz, 31, become chancellor and also the world's youngest leader. It also paved the way for Austria to become the only western European country with a far-right party in government.

"We are happy that we have reached this agreement. Tomorrow (Saturday) we will inform the president about our program and our team," Kurz, foreign minister in the outgoing government, told reporters in Vienna.

Austria's leader of the People's Party Sebastian Kurz leaves a meeting with President Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna, Austria, December 14, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Kurz's party won the October 15 election with a hard line on immigration that often overlapped with the Freedom Party's. The far-right party came third with 26 percent of the vote.

"We can inform you that there is a turquoise-blue agreement," Kurz said in a joint statement to reporters with Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache, referring to their two parties by their colors.

Strache and Kurz said the details of their deal would be made public on Saturday, after a meeting with President Alexander Van der Bellen and discussions with their parties' leadership structures.

"We want to reduce the burden on taxpayers ... and above all we want to ensure greater security in our country, including through the fight against illegal immigration," Kurz said, touching on core issues for both parties.

Head of the Freedom Party Heinz-Christian Strache (L) and head of the People's Party Sebastian Kurz address a news conference in Vienna, Austria, December 15, 2017. /Reuters Photo

New restrictions on refugee rights expected

In 2015, when more than a million refugees and other migrants arrived in Europe, Austria took in more than one percent of its population in asylum seekers, one of the highest rates in the EU. Many voters felt their country was overrun, and both parties have pledged to prevent a repeat of that influx.

Strache and Kurz have pledged to restrict new arrivals' access to many social services for their first five years in the country, and to provide recognized refugees with only a "light" version of regular benefits for five years.

While other far right parties in Europe have gained ground this year, entering parliament in Germany and making France's presidential run-off, the Freedom Party is going further by entering government and securing key ministries.

Former refugee John prepares a buffet in the cafe of Magdas hotel in Vienna, Austria, November 24, 2016. /VCG Photo

A person familiar with the talks said before Friday's announcement that the far-right party was poised to secure the Interior, Foreign and Defense Ministries.

Kurz has sought to head off potential criticism by offering assurances that his government will be pro-European. He also plans to shift responsibility for some EU issues from the Foreign Ministry to his office, the person familiar with the talks said, giving him greater control over EU policy.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters