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.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was named as interim chancellor on Wednesday as barbs between rival leaders began to fly ahead of new coalition talks led by the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).

If Kickl — who is expected to cozy up to the Kremlin and pursue hard-line policies in areas like migration — successfully forms a government he would become Austria’s new chancellor and the country’s first far-right leader since the end of World War II.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is to serve as interim chancellor until a new government is found, the office of President Alexander van der Bellen announced on Wednesday. Schallenberg is to lead the current coalition between the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Greens,

Alexander Schallenberg, Austria's Foreign Minister, is set to become the caretaker chancellor following Karl Nehammer's resignation after failed coalition talks. The far-right Freedom Party, led by Herbert Kickl,

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen announced Wednesday that Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg of the Austrian People's Party (OVP) will temporarily assume leadership of the government starting Friday.

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will be the interim head of Austria as coalition government talks continue. Outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer resigned after failing to form a coalition without the Freedom Party and will officially step down on Friday.

File photo taken on Sept 25 2023 shows Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg speaking at the 67th Genera

Schallenberg has served as Austria's foreign minister under outgoing chancellor Karl Nehammer since 2021. #EuropeNews