Overview

• The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) won Austria's recent election but faces challenges in forming a government as other parties refuse to cooperate with its leader, Herbert Kickl.
• President Alexander Van der Bellen has called on the FPO, the conservative People's Party (OVP), and the Social Democrats to discuss potential coalition options.
• The FPO secured 28.8% of the vote, but needs a coalition partner to achieve a parliamentary majority.
• Chancellor Karl Nehammer's OVP is open to a coalition with the FPO only if Kickl is not part of the government.
• The president aims to resolve the stalemate and has asked party leaders to report back by next week on possible cooperative solutions.