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Foreign Minister Schallenberg Appointed Interim Chancellor

The appointment comes just days after Karl Nehammer resigned as head of government following failed coalition talks.

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl hailed the start of a new political era as he invited the ÖVP to join him as a junior coalition partner.

As the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) begins the process of forming Austria’s next government, the news has prompted a variety of reactions.

The FPÖ was initially excluded from coalition talks, despite achieving a historic 29% of the vote in September’s parliamentary elections.

Karl Nehammer is stepping down as Chancellor and ÖVP leader “in the coming days” following the breakdown of coalition talks with the SPÖ.

NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger said neither the ÖVP nor the SPÖ had accepted NEOS’ proposed reforms to address Austria’s economic crisis.

With Austria’s economy in decline, the next government will need to tackle a €24 billion consolidation target to reduce the budget deficit.

Liabilities are also expected to increase by 31%, with the rise mainly due to a string of high-profile insolvencies.

The wage freeze will apply to senior federal officials, including the Federal President, government ministers and parliamentary leaders.

The parties are beginning formal negotiations to form what could be Austria’s first three-party government coalition since 1945.