Herbert Kickl on his way out of Vienna's Hofburg Palace following talks with Austria's president, Alexander Van der Bellen, earlier this month. | Credit: Joe Klamar / AFP / "Vienna could be about to get its first far-right leader since WWII,

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) on Monday with forming a coalition government after a centrist bid to assemble one without the FPO collapsed unexpectedly over the weekend.

Austria's far-right and conservative parties have previously shared power but always with the Freedom Party in a junior role.

Karin Keller-Sutter, is on an official visit to Austria, where she was received by the Austrian President, Alexander Van der Bellen. She attended a ceremony in his honor, followed by a press conference with the host president.

Austria could soon have its first government led by the far right since World War II. President Alexander Van der Bellen has turned to the far-right Freedom Party and its provocative leader Herbert Ki

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen delivers a speech in Vienna Austria Jan 5 2025 Van der Bellen said S

The leader of Austria’s Freedom Party received a mandate Monday to form a new government, which would be the first headed by the far right since World War II if he succeeds.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has asked the leader of the country's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) to form a new ruling coalition in what could yield the first far-right-led government in Austria since World War Two.

Austrian 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, the president’s office said Wednesday.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen speaks to the media after a meeting with far-right Freedom Party (FPO) leader Herbert Kickl, in Vienna, Austria, January 6, 2025. REUTERS/Leonhard ...

VIENNA, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) on Monday with forming a coalition government after a centrist bid to ...

Sutter, who took over the rotating Swiss presidency this year, has made her first official visit abroad as president to Austria. </p