Schallenberg becomes an interim chancellor: a restart for Austria!

Schallenberg becomes an interim chancellor: a restart for Austria!

After the resignation of Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (55) will temporarily take over the official business in the Federal Chancellery as an interim chancellor. As reported today.at, the presidential office has announced that Schallenberg will be commissioned by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen on Friday at 11 a.m. to "continue the administration of the Federal Chancellery and the chair in the interim federal government". This change takes place because Nehammer officially returns in office after 1,132 days. Schallenberg, known as the oldest member of the government, is no stranger to the Chancellery and had already played the role of the Chancellor in 2021.

The takeover of the interim office is a return to the chancellery for Schallenberg, which he held from October to December 2021. During this time he took over the government after his predecessor Sebastian Kurz had resigned. As Meinzirk.at reports, Schallenberg will run his official business until a new government has been engaged, but the exact time frames are unclear because the coalition negotiations between the FPÖ and the ÖVP are only at the beginning. Schallenberg made it clear that he would not participate in a possible coalition under FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl, which also complicated his role in the upcoming federal government.

Schallenberg plans to "hold talks as soon as possible" in Brussels and will keep his office as Foreign Minister at the same time. Political developments are of great importance for the Austrian government, since the coalition negotiations will be decisive for the future orientation of the country. This upheaval brings a breath of fresh air to Austrian politics and could be the starting point for significant changes.