Austria's Greens have approved a coalition government with the country's conservative party, Austrian People's Party (OeVP). Delegates of the Green party voted overwhelmingly for the coalition, with 93.2 percent in favor of the deal at a party congress.

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Austrian Greens to enter government for the first time after deal with conservatives

Party members were initially cautious about an alliance with the OeVP because of the conservatives' law and order agenda. Kurz, the leader of the OeVP, has campaigned for controversial policies like a ban on headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14. He also has argued for preventative custody for people deemed dangerous but have yet to commit a crime. 

However, Kurz told Green party members at the party congress that this coalition "makes a difference" because the OeVP's other choice would have been the FPO, Austria's far-right party. The speech got him a standing ovation.

The new coalition government has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2040, ten years before the European Union plans to achieve the same goal. This will also mark the Green's first time in office as they only won 13.9 percent of the vote in the last Austrian election compared to the OeVP's 37.5 percent.

This coalition is being closely watched by Germany's Christian Democrats in preparation for the country's next election which may have a similar voting pattern. 

(Cover: Leader of Austria's Green party Werner Kogler (R) and head of People's Party (OeVP) Sebastian Kurz shake hands after delivering a statement in Vienna, Austria, January 1, 2020. /Reuters Photo)

(With input from AFP, Reuters)