Vienna - In Austria , the coalition negotiations for a three-party alliance between the ÖVP, the SPÖ and the liberal Neos party have collapsed. The Liberals announced on Friday that they were pulling out of weeks of talks. Despite intensive negotiations, "no breakthrough" could be achieved with Black-Red, said party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger (46).

There have been several "no" votes for fundamental reforms. In addition to a new election, there are now several coalition scenarios - with varying chances of success.

She had informed the party leaders of the ÖVP and SPÖ, Karl Nehammer (52) and Andreas Babler (51), as well as the Federal President Alexander van der Bellen (80) in the morning "that we Neos will not continue the negotiations on a possible three-party coalition together with Black-Red in the role of a future government partner", said Meinl-Reisinger.

However, she assured the ÖVP and SPÖ of her party's support in parliament on some points. "We will not say no to the compromises that have already been reached," she assured.

The sticking point in the tripartite negotiations was the planning of a new budget. Austria is in an economic crisis and at the same time has to make strict savings in order to meet the EU criteria for financial stability. Striking a balance between austerity and measures to boost the economy is seen as the main task of a new government.

A three-party alliance would have been a first in Austrian politics since 1949. However, contentious issues already emerged during the coalition negotiations that began in October. The conservatives of the ÖVP, the social democrats of the SPÖ and the liberals disagreed on issues such as the economy and the budget.

In the meantime, ÖVP leader Nehammer even threatened to break off negotiations with the SPÖ.

The EU country of Austria is struggling with a weakening economy and a high budget deficit.

In the National Council elections at the end of September, the right-wing populist FPÖ became the strongest force in parliament for the first time with 28.85% of the vote. The conservative ÖVP achieved 26.3 percent, followed by the social democratic SPÖ with 21.1 percent.

The FPÖ feels that its predictions have been confirmed. For months, it has been warning of this "political freak of the loser traffic light system based on the German model", said FPÖ General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz. "Karl Nehammer has ignored all these concerns because he is really only interested in one thing: his own job as chancellor!" The FPÖ demanded the chancellor's resignation.

However, the ultra-right FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl (56), who wanted to become chancellor himself, was unable to find a partner in the ÖVP and SPÖ to form a government. The ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos therefore entered into coalition negotiations.

Following the collapse of the coalition talks, there are now several coalition scenarios in addition to the option of a new election, according to the APA news agency. However, two-party variants are considered unlikely - and both the ÖVP and the SPÖ have so far rejected cooperation with the right-wing populist FPÖ.

A classic "grand coalition" of SPÖ and ÖVP would only achieve a wafer-thin majority of one vote or 92 mandates in the 183-seat National Council. However, according to APA, the parties do not usually agree to such a weakly secured cooperation due to possible dissenters.

However, according to APA, another three-party coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and Greens would be mathematically possible. This would result in a more stable majority of 108 seats. The three-party coalition of conservatives, social democrats and liberals, which collapsed after the withdrawal of the Neos, would have ended up with 110 seats.