The Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) wants to retire from his post. Schallenberg announced on Thursday in a written statement that he will make his office available as soon as the relevant course has been set within the party. The withdrawal followed a few hours after ÖVP boss and ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced his resignation from all political functions. In the evening, Finance Minister Gernot Blümel announced that he would resign from his position.
“It is not my intention and has never been my goal to take over the role of federal party leader of the New People’s Party,” said Schallenberg. “I am of the firm opinion that both offices – head of government and federal party chairman of the strongest party in Austria – should quickly be reunited in one hand.” Former Foreign Minister Schallenberg only took over the post of Chancellor from Kurz in November after Kurz resigned after allegations of corruption. The 52-year-old lawyer and diplomat Schallenberg had previously been Foreign Minister in the Kurz cabinet. In October, after his appointment as head of government, he announced that he would be working closely with Kurz, which brought him the accusation of being the shadow chancellor.
According to several media reports, the current Minister of the Interior, Karl Nehammer, is to take over the leadership of the ÖVP and also become Federal Chancellor. A meeting of the federal party executive of the ÖVP is planned for Friday. Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler from the co-ruling Greens emphasized in a statement that Nehammer had a good basis for discussion and work.
Finance Minister Blümel announced on Facebook that evening: “I have decided to leave politics.” The resignation of ex-chancellor and ÖVP boss Sebastian Kurz was the impetus for his decision, he said.
The public prosecutor’s office for business and corruption suspects Kurz and some of his closest political comrades in having commissioned polls with the help of taxpayers’ money to pave the way for the chancellery. Kurz denies the allegations. On Friday, however, he announced his resignation from all political offices – as party and parliamentary group leader and as a parliamentarian. For the time being, nothing was known about Schallenberg’s future plans. He did not comment on reports that he could take over the external department again.
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