Radical Right FPÖ to Form Coalition in Austria

vienna - Austria's President has asked the leader of the radical right Freedom Party (FPÖ) to form a new coalition, as the attempt to form a government without the FPÖ failed. The FPÖ, which became the largest party in the recent elections, is expected to engage in talks with the Christian Democratic Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).

Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl to form a new coalition government. The FPÖ emerged as the largest party in the parliamentary elections at the end of September. The ruling ÖVP attempted to form a government without the radical right, but this effort failed last Saturday, leading Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) to resign.

Christian Stocker succeeded Nehammer as the Chancellor on Sunday and expressed readiness to engage in talks with the FPÖ for coalition formation.