Poker starts soon

First secret summit: how the ÖVP and SPÖ are going about it

Karl Nehammer and Andreas Babler have their first rendezvous.(Bild: Krone KREATIV, APA, AFP)

Officially, it is still up to the Federal President to task FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl with forming a government. At the same time, however, there is now also a first secret summit with the SPÖ. Who is a red rag for the Turks - and who is involved in the negotiations with the Reds.

Whether Doris Bures and Wolfgang Sobotka in the parliamentary office in mid-September, Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig in the spring, or two friendly governors off duty regularly in Vienna's Palais: for months, high-ranking ÖVP and SPÖ representatives have been trying to improve relations with each other again. It will soon become clear what the preliminary talks were worth. As the "Krone" has learned, a first direct exchange between the two party leaders Karl Nehammer and Andreas Babler is now planned.