Sun Jan 05 14:54:03 UTC 2025: ## Austrian Chancellor Resigns Amidst Coalition Collapse
**Vienna, Austria –** Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer resigned on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, following the collapse of coalition talks between the People’s Party and the Social Democrats. The resignation, announced on Saturday and effective in the coming days, throws Austria into further political turmoil after the liberal NEOS party withdrew from negotiations on Friday. The remaining parties failed to reach an agreement on addressing the country’s budget deficit.
The People’s Party has nominated its General Secretary, Christian Stocker, as interim leader. Mr. Stocker, a lawyer and member of parliament, is known for his calm demeanor and experience as a crisis communicator. It remains unclear who will serve as acting chancellor until a new government is formed.
Mr. Nehammer, who became chancellor in 2021, met with President Alexander Van der Bellen on Sunday to discuss the next steps. The president is expected to make a public statement shortly. Nehammer’s tenure was marked by a visit to both Kyiv and Moscow in 2022, making him the first European leader to meet with Vladimir Putin after the invasion of Ukraine. His predecessor, Sebastian Kurz, resigned amidst corruption allegations. The political instability continues to unfold as Austria searches for a new government.
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