This escalated quickly

Mistrust: No blue-black Valentine’s Day

Stocker and Kickl: this will no longer be a love affair.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/REUTERS, stock.adobe.com)

Mutual attacks by the FPÖ and ÖVP raise a central question: Is it theatrical thunder or actually the end of coalition negotiations that began promisingly? A telling analysis of the state of the nation by Rainer Nowak.

It escalated quickly. The blue-black alliance is already facing its first acid test before it has reached a decision. Herbert Kicklis openly threateningthe ÖVP with a massive increase in the bank levy - and new elections if they refuse. The ÖVP negotiators no longer understand the world; until now, this economic tax has not been an issue or an official FPÖ demand. What has happened?