Three parties say they have reached a deal to form a new centrist Austrian government, five months after an election was won by a far-right party that later failed in an attempt to form an administration.

Head of People's Party (OeVP) Christian Stocker, head of Social Democrats Andreas Babler and head of NEOS party Beate Meinl-Reisinger attend a press statement after finalizing coalition talks, at the Parliament in Vienna, Austria, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

The three biggest centrist parties in Austria's parliament have agreed to form a new coalition government, sidelining the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) even though it came first in September's parliamentary election.