Elon Musk: Always A Douche

[Syt]

FPÖ were the strongest party, but 70% of people did not vote for them, so they didn't secure a majority. After the election, the president met (separately with the heads of the parties now in parliament. Afterwards, there were feeler discussions between FPÖ/ÖVP after which ÖVP was stand-offish, prompting Kickl to leak some details of their talks and then launching attacks against people in ÖVP and SPÖ. This week the president asked heads of FPÖ, SPÖ and ÖVP again in to discuss it with them, and after having one-on-ones with each explained that he says no route for the FPÖ to form a coalition with anyone, therefore asking ÖVP to start working on forming a government, likely with SPÖ, and possibly a third party, like NEOS.

Meanwhile, an FPÖ hardliner has been voted parliament president - the post usually goes to the strongest party in parliament, though it's not required. There had been discussions whether it should go to FPÖ, because the post has the power to effectively shut down parliament at whim whenever or refuse the word to any member of parliament (powers originally intended as safeguards after the experience of the 1930s dictatorship where the government neutered the parliament). There's basically no oversight for this post, or a way to oust them - the only way is for the government to ask the president to dissolve the parliament and hold early elections (which might be reasonable if the parliament is unable to work).

[Sheilbh]

Out of interest is Austria one of those countries - like I think the low countries - where there's a formal appointment of someone to try and form a government? I don't know the roles but the formateur, informateur, scout etc - or is it more for the parties to reach a solution themselves?

[Syt]

Yes it is. After elections, president will invite the party leaders in for one-on-ones and then task one of them with forming a government. Usually it's pretty clear cut (strongest party), but not necessarily.

[The Minsky Moment]

How dare Hindenburg keep Hitler out of the chancellery!

That is what they are talking about, right?

[Valmy]

That used to annoy me about the Catalonian Separatists getting 40% of the seats and then hearing how they "won the election". If you didn't get 50% of the seats you didn't win the election, you still need coalition partners to actually win power. That is how parliamentary government works, you didn't win just because you are the biggest party.

Elon isn't thinking here, he has twitter brain bad where you just instinctually respond to whatever outrage you are presented without reflecting on it or fact checking it. I wish he would get off social media for a bit and remember how to be a normal person.

[The Minsky Moment]

How dare Hindenburg keep Hitler out of the chancellery!

That is what they are talking about, right?

Confirmed: that is what they were talking about.
https://x.com/mattyglesias/status/1830296838232232116/photo/2

[Kevin Klein] DON'T CALL ME FASCIST! [/Kevin Kelein]

[Barrister]

That used to annoy me about the Catalonian Separatists getting 40% of the seats and then hearing how they "won the election". If you didn't get 50% of the seats you didn't win the election, you still need coalition partners to actually win power. That is how parliamentary government works, you didn't win just because you are the biggest party.

Elon isn't thinking here, he has twitter brain bad where you just instinctually respond to whatever outrage you are presented without reflecting on it or fact checking it. I wish he would get off social media for a bit and remember how to be a normal person.

So at least in Westminster parliamentary systems, it's customary that the largest party in Parliament is given first chance to form government in the case of a minority. There's also a competing custom that the former government be allowed an opportunity, although usually it seems to go to the largest party rather than see a former government that's obviously lost seats try to cling to power.

[Josquius]

How dare Hindenburg keep Hitler out of the chancellery!

That is what they are talking about, right?

Confirmed: that is what they were talking about.
https://x.com/mattyglesias/status/1830296838232232116/photo/2

[Kevin Klein] DON'T CALL ME FASCIST! [/Kevin Kelein]

Just what is it with Sweden and online fascists.

[Syt]

That used to annoy me about the Catalonian Separatists getting 40% of the seats and then hearing how they "won the election". If you didn't get 50% of the seats you didn't win the election, you still need coalition partners to actually win power. That is how parliamentary government works, you didn't win just because you are the biggest party.

Elon isn't thinking here, he has twitter brain bad where you just instinctually respond to whatever outrage you are presented without reflecting on it or fact checking it. I wish he would get off social media for a bit and remember how to be a normal person.

So at least in Westminster parliamentary systems, it's customary that the largest party in Parliament is given first chance to form government in the case of a minority. There's also a competing custom that the former government be allowed an opportunity, although usually it seems to go to the largest party rather than see a former government that's obviously lost seats try to cling to power.

Austria has also the (infamous) precedent of the third strongest party having the chancellorship. In 1999, Wolfgang Schüssel (ÖVP) said pre-election that if his party was only third strongest party they would go into opposition. When the elections were over, SPÖ were strongest party, ahead of FPÖ (under Haider) and ÖVP. SPÖ and ÖVP still discussed forming a coalition, but the talks failed. In the end FPÖ and FPÖ formed a government with Schüssel as chancellor. The remainder of the EU was appalled about Haider/FPÖ being in government and reduced cooperation with Austria to a bare minimum for a year or so.

The reaction feels quaint in hindsight.

[Syt]

How dare Hindenburg keep Hitler out of the chancellery!

That is what they are talking about, right?

Confirmed: that is what they were talking about.
https://x.com/mattyglesias/status/1830296838232232116/photo/2

[Kevin Klein] DON'T CALL ME FASCIST! [/Kevin Kelein]

Is that Hortlund?

[The Minsky Moment]

Just what is it with Sweden and online fascists.

I don't think he is a Swede, he just has Sweden as his fake name.  Kind of guy that fantasizes about being a Gruppenfuhrer in the Wiking division.

[Sheilbh]

Just what is it with Sweden and online fascists.

Paradox games

Austria has also the (infamous) precedent of the third strongest party having the chancellorship. In 1999, Wolfgang Schüssel (ÖVP) said pre-election that if his party was only third strongest party they would go into opposition. When the elections were over, SPÖ were strongest party, ahead of FPÖ (under Haider) and ÖVP. SPÖ and ÖVP still discussed forming a coalition, but the talks failed. In the end FPÖ and FPÖ formed a government with Schüssel as chancellor. The remainder of the EU was appalled about Haider/FPÖ being in government and reduced cooperation with Austria to a bare minimum for a year or so.

Yes

[Crazy_Ivan80]

That used to annoy me about the Catalonian Separatists getting 40% of the seats and then hearing how they "won the election". If you didn't get 50% of the seats you didn't win the election, you still need coalition partners to actually win power. That is how parliamentary government works, you didn't win just because you are the biggest party.

Elon isn't thinking here, he has twitter brain bad where you just instinctually respond to whatever outrage you are presented without reflecting on it or fact checking it. I wish he would get off social media for a bit and remember how to be a normal person.

So at least in Westminster parliamentary systems, it's customary that the largest party in Parliament is given first chance to form government in the case of a minority. There's also a competing custom that the former government be allowed an opportunity, although usually it seems to go to the largest party rather than see a former government that's obviously lost seats try to cling to power.

Austria has also the (infamous) precedent of the third strongest party having the chancellorship. In 1999, Wolfgang Schüssel (ÖVP) said pre-election that if his party was only third strongest party they would go into opposition. When the elections were over, SPÖ were strongest party, ahead of FPÖ (under Haider) and ÖVP. SPÖ and ÖVP still discussed forming a coalition, but the talks failed. In the end FPÖ and FPÖ formed a government with Schüssel as chancellor. The remainder of the EU was appalled about Haider/FPÖ being in government and reduced cooperation with Austria to a bare minimum for a year or so.

The reaction feels quaint in hindsight.

Ah yes, that was when Fat Michel (daddy of the current not-so-fat-Michel who's playing at one of the 'presidents' of the EU) said, with much pathos, that we shouldn't go skiing in Austria. Lots of eyes were rolled and mirth was had at has expense during après-ski.