Kurz returns to govt in Austria, but this time in coalition with the Greens - Promises to 'save planet and equate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism'

Euronews
Thu, 02 Jan 2020 12:00 UTC

Comment: And just like that, another nationalist-conservative movement is snuffed out in Europe...

© LISI NIESNER/REUTERS

Sebastian Kurz and Werner Kogler were in talks for three months

Austria's conservative leader Sebastian Kurz is set to become chancellor again after his People's Party (ÖVP) entered into an unlikely coalition with the Greens.

The 33-year-old leader commended an "excellent" agreement at a press conference with Greens party chief Werner Kogler, but said that talks had not been easy because the "two parties are very very different".

Kurz said his party's coalition deal with the Greens "offers ''the best of both worlds'' and will allow both partners to keep their election promises.

"We will play a pioneering role in Europe in the field of climate change, environmental protection, and transparency", Kurz said. "Just as we pay attention to internal security, we will continue to fight against illegal migration, and of course, also lower taxes, as we promised in the election campaign."

Comment: While environmental concerns are relevant, of the policies mentioned above, which are also of top priority to voters throughout Europe, are: Transparency, illegal migration, taxes, and internal security.

Werner Kogler, who will become the country's vice-chancellor, said the parties had successfully "built bridges" for "the future of Austria".

Kurz's former coalition with the far-right Freedom Party fell apart earlier this year after German newspapers released footage showing vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache offering public contracts to a Russian campaign backer.

Freedom Party ministers resigned in mass before Kurz was eventually ousted by a no-confidence vote.

But in September's snap parliamentary elections, Kurz and his party came first, winning 37.5% of the vote.

The election also resulted in the Greens increasing their support significantly, coming fourth in the election, with 13.9% of the vote.

Kurz announced in November that his party had entered into talks with the Greens.

The new coalition will now have to be approved by the Greens' party congress.

Comment: It seems that the 'deep state' takedown of Kurz and his party has 're-educated' the Austrian elite:

• NATO 'Deep State' and Israeli interests both served by the collapse of the Austrian government
• Austrian Chancellor Kurz calls for new EU treaty, chides bloc members who 'gladly take our money'

Not only are they going to 'go green', they're going to become the fifth or so country in the last few months to kowtow to Israel:

The new government said it was committed to fighting anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on its soil and across the globe, and has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism.