Austria swears in Schallenberg as interim chancellor after Nehammer steps down

Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in as interim chancellor on Friday after now-former leader Karl Nehammer stepped down last weekend.

His appointment comes as the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Herbert Kickl has been invited to lead coalition negotiations to form the country's new government after topping the polls in elections last September.

Nehammer decided to step down after coalition negotiations between his People's Party (ÖVP), the centre-left Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the liberal Neos party, primarily designed to keep the FPÖ out of power, collapsed when the Neos withdrew.

This will be Schallenberg’s second brief term as Austria’s leader. He previously served as chancellor for less than two months in late 2021 after Sebastian Kurz resigned before passing the role to Nehammer and returning to his position as foreign minister.

Although the FPÖ came first in Austria's election, other parties refused to work with it. The ÖVP, in particular, said it wouldn't work with controversial Kickl, who it has described as a "security risk."

The ÖVP has done a U-turn since Nehammer resigned, and negotiations are currently underway to form a coalition between the two parties.

Schallenberg, a long-time diplomat and foreign minister since 2019, said he won't stay in a government led by Kickl.

For his part, Kickl has said he plans to enter coalition talks with clear demands, including his party's election win is respected and past mistakes are addressed.

Kickl is a polarising figure in Austria who has long-attracted criticism for his casual use of Nazi-era terms — having once called himself the "Volkskanzler" — as well as his opposition to vaccinations and lockdowns during the pandemic.

However, his party is currently in a strong position to begin negotiations talks, as recent polling suggests FPÖ would only increase its support to 35% should discussions fail and a new election be called.

Christian Stocker, interim leader of the People’s Party, said he would meet with Kickl and demand clear answers on issues important to his party and Austria.