Karl Nehammer, who resigned a week ago as Austria's chancellor after attempts to form a coalition government without the far right collapsed, is withdrawing from national politics and giving up his seat in parliament,

Austria's acting foreign minister, Alexander Schallenberg, took over as acting chancellor on Friday following the resignation of Christian Democrat Karl Nehammer, who stepped down last week after his attempt to form a government with the Social Democrats and Liberals to oust the far-right FPÖ party from power failed.

The Austrian president's office says Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will serve as the country’s interim leader while the far-right Freedom Party attempts to put together a new coalition government.

Talks to form a coalition government led by Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) will begin on Friday, the party said on Thursday, as thousands protested in Vienna against the prospect of the country's first FPO-led government.

The far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), currently negotiating a coalition government in the Alpine state, are planning massive attacks on the working class and on migrants.

The European Commission has decided not to formally reprimand Austria for breaching the EU’s budget rules, in a major victory for Herbert Kickl's Freedom Party (FPÖ) which is poised to lead Vienna’s first far-right government since World War II.

Drug-impaired driving cases spike, Austrian hostage included in Gaza deal, and missing Slovakian search continues—plus more updates from Austria on Friday.

At a beer-fueled meeting of Austria's far-right Freedom Party this week, members of parliament referred to Afghan refugees as “knife-wielding sex offenders” and to the EU's “repression of speech”, hidden camera footage has revealed.

With the elections in September 2024, the populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) became the strongest party in Austria for the first time. In January 2025, hopes of averting populism quickly faded when Austria’s Federal President Alexander van der Bellen was left with no choice other than giving the FPÖ a mandate to form a government.

Elon Musk may steal headlines with his zeal for Germany’s AfD party, but sentiments are shifting well beyond Berlin.

A government led by the far right wouldn't just herald a new era in Austrian politics. It would bolster rising far-right parties across Europe. The post Austria Represents a New Twist for the Rise of Europe's Far Right appeared first on World Politics Review.

Herbert Kickl, who now has good chances of becoming Austria's next chancellor, has radicalized the FPÖ in recent years. He seems to enjoy his role as the ultimate evil.