Politics Austria's ÖVP: General Secretary to become party leader
Following the announced resignation of Chancellor and ÖVP leader Karl Nehammer, the current Secretary General of the conservatives, Christian Stocker, is to lead the party. This has been agreed by the party leadership, according to the ÖVP. Stocker is regarded as an experienced crisis manager. It initially remained unclear who would lead the government until a new coalition was formed. Nehammer withdrew after his project to forge a centrist government with the social democratic SPÖ and the liberal Neos party and thus keep the FPÖ out of power failed. The right-wing populists had become the strongest force in the elections in September. The former chancellor and ÖVP leader Sebastian Kurz had previously rejected calls from his party to return to the leadership of the conservatives. The ÖVP could now enter into coalition negotiations with the FPÖ. Its leader Herbert Kickl is laying claim to the chancellorship. Alternatively, there could also be new elections.
05.01.2025, 13:53
SDA
