Austrian foreign minister Schallenberg takes over as caretaker chancellor

Reuters
FILE PHOTO: Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg attends an interview with Reuters in Vienna

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in as caretaker chancellor on Friday, succeeding fellow conservative Karl Nehammer who quit last weekend after his attempt to form a centrist coalition government without the far right failed.

The current government, led by the People's Party (OVP), has served in a caretaker capacity since September's parliamentary election, which the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) won. The FPO has been tasked with forming a government and is due to start coalition talks with the OVP on Friday.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Christina Fincher)

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