Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen will make a decision on appointing a temporary chancellor on Wednesday, January 8, Kronen Zeitung reports.
According to Austrian media, the main contenders for the position are Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Minister for EU and Constitutional Affairs Karoline Edtstadler. The press offices of both ministers have so far refrained from commenting.
Schallenberg’s prior experience favors his candidacy: he previously served as chancellor after Sebastian Kurz’s resignation on October 11, 2021. The current chancellor, Karl Nehammer, who earlier announced his resignation, will leave office on Friday, January 10.
On Monday, President Van der Bellen tasked Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl with initiating negotiations to form a new government. If the negotiations are successful, Austria could have a right-wing chancellor for the first time in its history.
It has also been reported that Schallenberg intends to leave the government if his Austrian People’s Party agrees to a coalition with the right-wing.
