Social Dems, Greens to form coalition in Vienna

Vienna: The Austrian capital`s Social
Democrats and Greens say they`ve agreed to form a coalition
government following recent elections that saw a surge in
support for the far-right.

The Social Democrats led by longtime mayor Michael
Haeupl got the most votes but lost their majority hold on
power in the October 10 poll that saw the right-wing Freedom
Party take second place with almost 26 per cent.

The heads of the two parties announced their agreement
- which still needs to be rubber-stamped by both sides -
today. Haeupl will remain Vienna`s mayor and Maria Vassilakou
of the Greens, who grew up in Athens, will become his deputy.
Freedom Party chief Heinz-Christian Strache called the
agreement a "coalition of losers."

PTI