Vienna, Austria: Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer has announced that he will resign from both his position as chancellor and as the leader of the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) after coalition talks with the Social Democrats and the liberal Neos party collapsed.
Nehammer explained that his party and the Social Democrats could not agree on key issues, and the Neos party also withdrew from the discussions.
The breakdown in talks follows the far-right Freedom Party’s (FPÖ) unexpected victory in the September general election. However, other parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the FPÖ and its leader Herbert Kickl.
Analysts suggest that the collapse of negotiations could lead to the ÖVP negotiating with the FPÖ or a new election being called.
Nearly 29% of the vote in the election went to the FPÖ, which has seen its popularity grow further since then and now welcomes the possibility of a new election.
Criticizing the current situation, the far-right party has called for the resignation of Social Democrat leader Andreas Babler and blamed President Alexander Van der Bellen for the chaos.
Founded by former Nazis in the 1950s, the FPÖ has a controversial past.
Known for its stance on immigration control and remigration, the FPÖ gained attention for an incident in which some of its candidates were caught singing an SS song at a funeral before the election.
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