Status: 02.12.2021 6:12 p.m.
First ex-Chancellor Kurz announced his departure from politics, now his successor is also throwing out: Austria’s Chancellor Schallenberg is leaving his post after just under two months.
Austria’s Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg makes his office available. This was announced by a spokesman for the ÖVP politician. A few hours earlier, the former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had announced his retirement as ÖVP boss.
Party chairmanship and chancellery in one hand
“It is not my intention and has never been my goal to take over the function of federal party leader of the New People’s Party. I firmly believe that both offices – head of government and federal party leader of Austria’s party with the strongest vote – should quickly be reunited in one hand”, he announced in a written statement.
He declared that he was “ready to take over the office of Chancellor during a very challenging phase for the Federal Government and the New People’s Party”.
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 executive committee of the ÖVP is planned for Friday.