The conservative Christian Stocker has been appointed as Austria’s chancellor, leading a three-party coalition government, marking the end of a five-month political impasse following the far-right Freedom Party’s victory in September’s elections. Despite winning the most votes, the Freedom Party has been kept in opposition. Stocker, along with the Austrian People’s Party, the centre-left Social Democrats, and the liberal Neos, have agreed on a “common programme.” The coalition aims to address issues such as rising unemployment, recession, and a strained budget, with a plan for stricter asylum rules in the European Union. President Alexander Van der Bellen expressed optimism about the government’s formation, the country’s longest since World War II. Stocker, who lacks previous national government experience, takes on the role of chancellor, with Andreas Babler from the Social Democrats as vice chancellor, and Beate Meinl-Reisinger from Neos as foreign minister. Key conservative positions have been retained, but the Ministry of Finance is now led by Markus Marterbauer from the Social Democrats.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/3/christian-stocker-becomes-austria-chancellor-as-three-party-govt-sworn-in?traffic_source=rss