The development follows the withdrawal of Austria’s liberal party, NEOS, from three-party coalition negotiations to form a centrist government to exclude the far-right FPO

Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he’ll step down as head of government and chairman of the conservative People’s Party after failing to form a coalition government.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in as caretaker chancellor on Friday, succeeding fellow conservative Karl Nehammer who quit last weekend after his attempt to form a centrist coalition government without the far right failed.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has been entrusted to lead the country in the interim as negotiations to form the country's new leading coalition continue.View on euronews

Another leading figure from Austria's centre-right People's Party (ÖVP) has been appointed as the country's acting head of government, amid months of political turmoil resulting from recent elections.