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Austria conservatives agree coalition with Greens Austria backs green agenda with new coalition deal
(about 20 hours later)
Austria's conservatives have agreed to form an unprecedented coalition government with the Greens after months of negotiations. Austria's right-wing leader Sebastian Kurz has put forward a coalition plan with his new Green partners, including more ambitious measures to decarbonise the economy.
Sebastian Kurz's People's Party had been in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party until a scandal toppled the government in May. They aim to put Austria on a path to becoming climate-neutral by 2040 - ten years earlier than the EU's goal.
The People's Party came top in a snap September election, but have only now agreed a deal with the Greens. Climate neutrality means balancing greenhouse gas emissions with measures that absorb or eliminate carbon.
It is the first time the left-wing party will serve in government. The conservatives won a snap September election, and the Greens made gains.
"We succeeded in uniting the best of both worlds," Mr Kurz said on Wednesday. "It is possible to protect the climate and borders." Mr Kurz said the joint programme also included many of his People's Party (ÖVP) priorities, like lower income taxes and stricter controls on migration.
Greens leader Werner Kogler said Austria should now become a European leader on climate change issues, telling reporters that both parties "have possibly agreed on more than we could have imagined beforehand". The ÖVP had been in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) until a scandal toppled the government in May. The FPÖ got entangled in a video sting scandal, dubbed "Ibiza-gate", involving cash for favours.
Full details of the coalition will be announced on Thursday. But the leaders suggested they would aim to lower taxes in general - a People's Party pledge - while bringing in higher environmental taxes, in line with Green policies. The Green Party is entering national government for the first time.
Mr Kurz is expected to return as Austria's chancellor, while Werner Kogler is expected to serve as vice-chancellor. The new coalition line-up still has to be formally approved by both parties. Under the plan, the ÖVP will have 11 ministerial posts and the Greens four.
"We succeeded in uniting the best of both worlds," Mr Kurz said. "It is possible to protect the climate and borders."
The programme includes:
Greens leader Werner Kogler said Austria should now become a European leader on climate change issues.
Mr Kurz is poised to return as Austria's chancellor, with Mr Kogler as vice-chancellor.
Among the prospective Green ministers is 35-year-old Alma Zadic, a lawyer born in Bosnia, who is set to run the justice ministry. She is likely to push for a more open immigration policy.
How did we get here?How did we get here?
After elections in 2017, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) joined a coalition with Mr Kurz's People's Party (ÖVP). After elections in 2017, the FPÖ joined a coalition with Mr Kurz's People's Party (ÖVP).
But the government fell apart in May after a video sting scandal, dubbed "Ibiza-gate". But the government fell apart in May over the "Ibiza-gate" scandal.
Journalists revealed secret recordings of the Freedom Party's leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, promising government contracts to a woman posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch at a villa on the Spanish island. Journalists revealed secret recordings of FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache, promising government contracts to a woman posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch at a villa on the Spanish island.
Snap elections followed in September. The People's Party came out unscathed, winning in eight of Austria's nine federal states and increasing its share of the national vote to 37%. The Freedom Party, in contrast, only won 16%, a sharp fall from its 2017 performance. Snap elections followed in September. The ÖVP came out unscathed, winning in eight of Austria's nine federal states and increasing its share of the national vote to 37%. The FPÖ, in contrast, only won 16%, a sharp fall from its 2017 performance.
Mr Kurz's party however did not gain a majority and began coalition talks with smaller parties - including the Greens, who had won 14% of the vote.Mr Kurz's party however did not gain a majority and began coalition talks with smaller parties - including the Greens, who had won 14% of the vote.
Green leader Mr Kogler said straight after the September election that the next government would need to see "radical change" from the right-wing policies pursued by the previous coalition.Green leader Mr Kogler said straight after the September election that the next government would need to see "radical change" from the right-wing policies pursued by the previous coalition.
A Green party congress must still endorse the coalition with the People's Party. Its roughly 280 delegates are however expected to approve the agreement.A Green party congress must still endorse the coalition with the People's Party. Its roughly 280 delegates are however expected to approve the agreement.
Of Austria's 15 ministries, the Greens are expected to take control of four.