Crisis over climate law and drought aid: SPÖ and Neos reject ÖVP's proposal

Austria's governing coalition is embroiled in a significant crisis, with the conservative ÖVP party's latest proposal for a climate law facing strong opposition from its coalition partners, the SPÖ and Neos.

The SPÖ and Neos have deemed the ÖVP's draft unacceptable, describing it as "flimsy" and lacking binding targets. This disagreement extends beyond the climate law, as tensions also simmer over drought relief measures for farmers. The opposition parties are demanding that the ÖVP commit to a joint climate law with concrete goals, a move that has been reportedly blocked by the ÖVP's economic wing.

The conflict highlights deep divisions within the coalition regarding environmental policy and agricultural support. The situation is described as "scorched earth" within the coalition, mirroring the drought conditions affecting the country's farmlands. The SPÖ has indicated a final deadline for the ÖVP to act, suggesting the coalition's stability is at stake.