Austria's FM to take over as caretaker chancellor

VIENNA, Jan 08 (AFP): Austria's foreign minister (FM) Alexander Schallenberg will take over as caretaker chancellor from Friday, as the far right seeks to form a government with the conservatives, the presidential office announced.

Wednesday's statement came after conservative Karl Nehammer said over the weekend he would step down as chancellor and party chairman.

Nehammer made the decision on Saturday, after the collapse of coalition talks to form a government excluding the far-right Freedom party (FPOe).

The FPOe topped September polls for the first time ever in the Alpine EU member of nine million, but has until now been unable to find partners to govern.

On Tuesday however, radical far-right leader Herbert Kickl invited the conservatives to start negotiations, which they accepted.

Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the Greens, will appoint Schallenberg to the interim role on Friday.