Defence minister in Austria Klaudia Tanner from the centre-right ÖVP revealed her inclination for a two-party government during an interview on Sunday with APA.

Polls indicate this would mean a coalition with the far-right FPÖ.

With the FPÖ continuing to head up the polls at 30%, analysts suggest the ÖVP could be mooting the notion of establishing another right-wing government, Euractiv reports.

Austrians will be heading to the polls in September.

The defence minister has signalled her preference for a two-party coalition, with the country now in full election campaign mode, unlike in Germany, where three parties jointly govern.

Speaking during her interview with APA, Tanner said that comprises between three-party governments are more difficult to reach, making reference to the present three-way coalition between Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD, the Greens and the liberal FDP in Germany.

In addition, reports suggest the three-party government is profoundly unpopular amongst voters, currently polling at 30%, a fall of more than 20 percentage points compared to the election in 2021.

Austria’s defence minister also highlighted the challenges linked to a three-way government.

“Each party had its programme and opinions, making compromises troublesome. There’s no question that this is more challenging with three parties,” she went on to say.

According to the latest polls, a two-party majority requires support from the far-right. That said, the defence minister continued to rule out a coalition with the current leader of the FPÖ, Herbert Kickl.