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Austria coalition gov't in dispute over early elections

Xinhua, May 12, 2017 Adjust font size:

The two parties in the Austrian coalition government have been locked in dispute over the issue of early elections, local media reported on Friday.

Following the resignation of vice-chancellor and leader of the People's Party Reinhold Mitterlehner earlier in the week, his likely successor Sebastian Kurz has demanded early elections as a condition for taking over the reigns.

In a statement to the media, Kurz, who is presently serving as minister for foreign affairs, said while he acknowledged that early elections would not be popular, they are the only means for change in the country and as such the "right way" forward.

He was also dismissive of the offer from Chancellor and Social Democrats leader Christian Kern to work together in a "reform partnership," arguing that simply acting as though it was business as usual between the two parties would soon lead to the same problems again, with "minimal compromises" made.

In response to the stance from Kurz, Kern told "Die Presse" in an interview he wished for an apology, claiming in knocking back the offer of a reform partnership, an insinuation of insincerity had been made.

Further, he said if the call for early elections were being made from the People's Party as an ultimatum, it would spell the end of their long-standing cooperation "for a very long time."

He does not want early elections, Kern said, and wishes to solve problems in parliament instead.

His party could maintain its ruling mandate by forging "alternating majorities" with the other parties to the federal parliament, Kern said. Endit