Members of Austria's liberal Neos party voted overwhelmingly in favor of a coalition with the conservative People's Party (OVP) and Social Democrats (SPO) in Vienna on Sunday, paving the way for their three-party government to take office.
The vote was the final hurdle before the planned government formation, scheduled to be sworn in on Monday at 11 a.m. (1000 GMT), following a parliamentary election five months ago where the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) secured around 29% of the vote.
This coalition will end Austria's longest government formation since World War Two, after previous attempts to form a government without the FPO failed in January. The eurosceptic FPO then led an unsuccessful coalition effort last month.
The centrist alliance, excluding the FPO, was one of the few remaining options before a snap election, which polls suggested would further boost the FPO's popularity.
Neos leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger expressed gratitude to her party members in Vienna for supporting the coalition agreement: "Thank you! Work begins tomorrow!"
Referring to the months of negotiations and compromises, Meinl-Reisinger emphasized the importance of democracy before the vote: "I have asked myself what democracies are worth if no-one can reach out their hand anymore."
The new government aims to address state spending, bureaucratic hurdles, and implement reforms such as pension reform, a key Neos priority. Meinl-Reisinger concluded her speech encouraging the group to "Let's make history today."
In the forthcoming government, the OVP will lead with Christian Stocker becoming chancellor, overseeing the interior and defense ministries; the SPO will manage the finance ministry for the first time in 25 years and take charge of the justice ministry, while the Neos will oversee foreign affairs and education.