Austria's Chancellor Resigns After Coalition Talks Collapse, Leaving Country in Political Limbo

Austria's Chancellor to Resign After Coalition Talks Fail

Austria's conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced his resignation on Saturday, citing the breakdown of coalition talks with the Social Democrats. The move comes after months of negotiations failed to bridge key policy differences between the two parties.

In a video message, Nehammer stated that he would step down "both as chancellor and party chairman of the People's Party (OeVP) in the coming days and enable an orderly transition." This unexpected development throws Austria's political landscape into uncertainty, with the possibility of snap elections or a new coalition with the far-right Freedom Party, which emerged victorious in the September national elections.

The breakdown of talks between the conservatives and the Social Democrats stemmed from disagreements on several crucial issues, including tax cuts, climate change policies, and immigration. Nehammer's resignation leaves Austria facing a period of political instability, with the path forward remaining unclear.