Austria's President Thomas Klestil will meet the far-right politician, Mr Jorg Haider, and the leader of the conservative People's Party next week to discuss their progress in negotiations to form a government. Mr Klestil announced the meeting after the Chancellor, Mr Viktor Klima, told him he had failed to secure support for a minority government led by his Social Democrats.
But the President declined to say whether he would ask Mr Haider, whose Freedom Party came second in Austria's federal election last year, to form a government.
The talks between Mr Haider and the People's Party have been greeted with outrage outside Austria and Israel has threatened to withdraw its ambassador from Vienna if the right-wing populist enters government. The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, expressed concern at the prospect of the far-right Freedom Party joining the government in Austria, his official spokesman said yesterday.
Asked if Mr Blair shared concerns expressed by the French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, the spokesman said: "He certainly does have similar thoughts."
He said that while Mr Blair felt it was wrong to interfere in other countries' domestic politics, "he has a pretty deep loathing for farright politics". Mr Haider is best known abroad for appearing to play down Nazi crimes, although he has since apologised, and the prospect of his party entering government has triggered a chorus of international criticism.
The Conservative President of the European Parliament, Ms Nicole Fontaine, said yesterday it would be intolerable if the Freedom Party formed part of Austria's next government.
"Jorg Haider's party propounds an ideology that is at the opposite pole to the humanist values that are at the basis of every democratic society," she said.
Clearly stung by the criticism from abroad, the People's Party leader, Dr Wolfgang Schussel, attempted yesterday to reassure Austria's neighbours. He promised that any coalition agreement between his party and Mr Haider's would respect the human rights and dignity of everyone in Austria, including immigrants and asylum-seekers.
"I would not form or be part of any government that did not place certain principles beyond question," he said.
Dr Schussel is expected to become chancellor if the coalition talks succeed. Mr Haider will almost certainly remain outside the cabinet in his present post as governor of his home state of Carinthia. As the undisputed leader of his party, however, Dr Haider will undoubtedly exert considerable influence.
