Germany’s Scholz follows Austrian developments ‘with great concern’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he is following the developments in Austria, with the possible chancellorship of far-right leader Herbert Kickl, “with great concern.”

Germany holds elections on February 23 and its own far-right party – the Alternative for Germany (AfD) – is expected to do well, although mainstream parties have refused to form a governing coalition with them.

In contrast, the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has been given a mandate by the Austrian president to try to form a government after topping September’s elections. Attempts to form a coalition without the far right have floundered.

Scholz said at a campaign event in Ludwigsfelde, near Berlin, that all parties in Austria that did not want to work with the FPÖ had a majority.

“You actually have to make something of that. In this respect, this is perhaps also a reminder that you should think carefully about what you do beforehand – so that you don’t wake up with a hangover afterwards, as a large number of Austrians are certainly doing right now,” he remarked.