Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has been appointed as the interim leader of Austria as the far-right Freedom Party works to form a new coalition government. This decision comes after outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced his resignation following failed attempts to create a coalition without the Freedom Party, with his resignation set for Friday.
President Alexander Van der Bellen's office confirmed that Schallenberg, aged 55, will be tasked with managing the chancellery and leading the interim government. This will be Schallenberg's second time serving as Austria's leader, having previously held the position briefly in late 2021 before returning to his role as Foreign Minister.
The Freedom Party, known for its anti-immigration, euroskeptic, and Russia-friendly stance, emerged victorious in Austria's parliamentary election in September. Despite initial reluctance from other parties to work with them, Nehammer's resignation prompted a shift in the Austrian People's Party's stance, opening the door for potential collaboration with the Freedom Party under its leader, Herbert Kickl.
Herbert Kickl has been given the mandate to attempt to form a new government, which could mark the first time a far-right party leads the country since World War II. However, the process of forming a coalition government could be lengthy and may not ultimately succeed.
Schallenberg, who has a background in diplomacy, has been serving as Foreign Minister since 2019, with his recent appointment as interim leader signaling a temporary return to the role of chancellor. Notably, Schallenberg has stated that he does not intend to remain in the government under Kickl's leadership.
