Austrian Chancellor and head of Peoples Party (OEVP) Karl Nehammer addresses the media in Vienna, Austria, October 15, 2024. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on Tuesday tasked Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leader of the conservative People's Party, with forming a government over the objections of the far-right Freedom Party, which won last month's general election.
The eurosceptic, Russia-friendly Freedom Party (FPO) came out top in the election on Sept. 29 for the first time in its history. But with around 29% of the vote it would need to assemble a coalition to command a majority in parliament and form a government.
