Next steps: When will Austria get a new chancellor?

As Austria waits for final election results, discussions on potential coalitions and a new Chancellor are underway. Here are the next steps towards a new government.

Government resignation and continuity of official business
On Wednesday, the current government, a centre-right ÖVP and Greens coalition, will offer its resignation to President Alexander van der Bellen, a traditional step taken by governments even if they have won the elections and are expected to continue in government.
In line with tradition, the president will instruct the outgoing government to remain in office until a new administration is sworn in so that official business can continue during this transitional period.
Coalition negotiations
The official and final election result is expected on Thursday, October 3rd after all the remaining ballots are counted. Pollsters say there won’t be any significant mathematical changes to the results. However, the parties still wait for the official count to end before starting exploratory talks.
After the counting has officially ended, the Federal President assigns the task of government formation to the party leader with the most votes. This would mean the FPÖ would then have a mandate to start talks with other parties to find agreements and get a majority in Parliament. The President’s role in this process is crucial as he is responsible for ensuring a smooth transition of power and forming a stable government.
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However, this election has been more challenging. Van der Bellen had previously indicated he would not automatically grant this responsibility to Herbert Kickl if the far-right party FPÖ emerged as the winner.
Instead, he said he would discuss with all parties in the National Council to search for compromises.
READ ALSO: ‘No coalition’: Austria’s party leaders rule out government with far right
Coalition negotiations will start with exploratory talks between the parties, followed by more detailed negotiations that should then lead to a coalition agreement.
Coalition governments have been the norm in Austria since 1945, a key aspect of the country’s political history. During the so-called Second Republic, there were 28 coalition governments, five sole governments and, from June 2019 to January 2020, one government that was not based on a party coalition and was referred to as an ‘expert government’, according to the National Council.
Austria’s constitution does not stipulate a mandatory date by which a new government must be formed. Since 1979, though, the average duration of government formation from the time the government mandate is issued to the appointment of the new federal government has been 61 days.
That would mean Austria would have a new Chancellor in early December.
However, analysts expect this government formation could take longer, particularly if a three-way coalition is being negotiated. According to Austria’s parliament, the ÖVP-Greens negotiations took 92 days in 2019.
What happens if there is no coalition agreement?
It’s very unlikely that Austria will hold new elections if the parties fail to agree on a parliamentary majority. The first session of the newly elected National Council takes place on October 24th, when all 183 members will be sworn in and elect their new National Council president.
If coalition negotiations fail, there is the legal possibility of a minority government. This form of government would depend on finding a new majority in the National Council for every project.
There has only been one minority government in Austria since 1945, between April 1970 and November 1971.
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Who elects the chancellor, then?
Once a coalition is agreed upon, the parties will suggest the name of the next chancellor to the Federal President, who then appoints the Chancellor (so they are not elected) and, at his or her suggestion, the other government ministers.
The President’s role in this process is to ensure that the Chancellor and the government ministers are appointed in accordance with the constitution and the people’s will as expressed in the election results.
READ NEXT: How would a far-right government in Austria affect the lives of foreigners?

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Even though the far-right party FPÖ has been hailed as the big winner of Austria’s 2024 national elections, gaining 57 of the 183 seats in parliament, all the votes are still not officially counted in Austria. The final result will be come in the coming days.
And with coalition talks just beginning, we are still far away from having a new chancellor elected.
Between political steps and symbolic traditions, here is what’s coming up next in Austria’s future.
READ ALSO: Will far-right Herbert Kickl be the new chancellor?
Government resignation and continuity of official business
On Wednesday, the current government, a centre-right ÖVP and Greens coalition, will offer its resignation to President Alexander van der Bellen, a traditional step taken by governments even if they have won the elections and are expected to continue in government.
In line with tradition, the president will instruct the outgoing government to remain in office until a new administration is sworn in so that official business can continue during this transitional period.
Coalition negotiations
The official and final election result is expected on Thursday, October 3rd after all the remaining ballots are counted. Pollsters say there won’t be any significant mathematical changes to the results. However, the parties still wait for the official count to end before starting exploratory talks.
After the counting has officially ended, the Federal President assigns the task of government formation to the party leader with the most votes. This would mean the FPÖ would then have a mandate to start talks with other parties to find agreements and get a majority in Parliament. The President’s role in this process is crucial as he is responsible for ensuring a smooth transition of power and forming a stable government.
However, this election has been more challenging. Van der Bellen had previously indicated he would not automatically grant this responsibility to Herbert Kickl if the far-right party FPÖ emerged as the winner.
Instead, he said he would discuss with all parties in the National Council to search for compromises.
READ ALSO: ‘No coalition’: Austria’s party leaders rule out government with far right
Coalition negotiations will start with exploratory talks between the parties, followed by more detailed negotiations that should then lead to a coalition agreement.
Coalition governments have been the norm in Austria since 1945, a key aspect of the country’s political history. During the so-called Second Republic, there were 28 coalition governments, five sole governments and, from June 2019 to January 2020, one government that was not based on a party coalition and was referred to as an ‘expert government’, according to the National Council.
Austria’s constitution does not stipulate a mandatory date by which a new government must be formed. Since 1979, though, the average duration of government formation from the time the government mandate is issued to the appointment of the new federal government has been 61 days.
That would mean Austria would have a new Chancellor in early December.
However, analysts expect this government formation could take longer, particularly if a three-way coalition is being negotiated. According to Austria’s parliament, the ÖVP-Greens negotiations took 92 days in 2019.
What happens if there is no coalition agreement?
It’s very unlikely that Austria will hold new elections if the parties fail to agree on a parliamentary majority. The first session of the newly elected National Council takes place on October 24th, when all 183 members will be sworn in and elect their new National Council president.
If coalition negotiations fail, there is the legal possibility of a minority government. This form of government would depend on finding a new majority in the National Council for every project.
There has only been one minority government in Austria since 1945, between April 1970 and November 1971.
Who elects the chancellor, then?
Once a coalition is agreed upon, the parties will suggest the name of the next chancellor to the Federal President, who then appoints the Chancellor (so they are not elected) and, at his or her suggestion, the other government ministers.
The President’s role in this process is to ensure that the Chancellor and the government ministers are appointed in accordance with the constitution and the people’s will as expressed in the election results.
READ NEXT: How would a far-right government in Austria affect the lives of foreigners?

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