Austrian President tasks leader of People’s Party with forming new government

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked Karl Nehammer, leader of the conservative People's Party and caretaker Chancellor, with forming a new coalition government. In a televised statement from the Presidential Palace, Van der Bellen announced Nehammer's appointment after the Freedom Party, which won the largest share of the vote in the recent parliamentary elections, failed to secure a coalition partner to form a government under its leadership. The Freedom Party won Austria's legislative elections for the first time in its history, securing 28.8 percent of the vote. The People's Party came in second with 26.3 percent, while the Social Democrats fell to third place for the first time with 21.1 percent. Source: Emirates News Agency