FILE PHOTO: Head of NEOS party Beate Meinl-Reisinger speaks with journalists after coalition talks in Vienna, Austria, December 20, 2024. REUTERS/Elisabeth Mandl/File Photo
VIENNA (Reuters) -The smallest of three parties in talks to form Austria's next government unexpectedly quit those negotiations on Friday, throwing into disarray an effort to form a centrist ruling coalition without the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).
The shock move by the liberal Neos party raised serious doubts about the future of the coalition talks and buoyed the eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO. The FPO has railed against those negotiations since it was shut out despite winning the last parliamentary election in September with around 29% of the vote.
