Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, who will become the new Chancellor on Monday, said on Sunday that an "
extremely difficult task
" awaited him, the day after the resignation of conservative Sebastian Kurz, suspected of being involved in an affair of corruption.
Read also In Austria, the fall of the young right-wing prodigy Sebastian Kurz
This 52-year-old diplomat, whose name was proposed on Saturday by Sebastian Kurz to succeed him, met Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on Sunday. At the end of this meeting, the president declared that Alexander Schallenberg would be sworn in on Monday so that “
the work for our country can continue
”. “
This government crisis is over,
” Alexander Van der Bellen said in a televised speech. Shortly before, the future chancellor had mentioned "
a moment and a particularly difficult task, complicated for all of us
", welcoming that his party ÖVP shows "
an incredible degree of responsibility towards this country
".
The head of diplomacy had previously held talks with Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler.
The latter, leader of the Greens who govern in coalition with the conservatives, had let it be known on Saturday evening that he would support the appointment of Alexander Schallenberg to the chancellery, in order to keep the conservative-Green coalition in power.
Werner Kogler welcomed a "
frank
"
interview
.
“
Above all, I am happy that there is a possibility of opening a new chapter in the work of the coalition government
,” he added.
Second storm
Sebastian Kurz, 35, who had become the youngest elected leader on the planet at the end of 2017, was swept away by the scandal for the second time, after a previous political storm in 2019 that he had spectacularly managed to overcome. "
It would be irresponsible to slip into months of chaos or deadlock,
" Sebastian Kurz said on Saturday, explaining withdrawing for "
the stability
" of the country, while refuting "
false accusations
". "
I want to give way to avoid chaos,
" he added.
Since the announcement Wednesday by the prosecution of the opening of an investigation against him for corruption, Sebastian Kurz was under pressure to withdraw.
He had so far refused, denouncing “
fabricated
”
allegations
.
But he finally preferred to take the lead, under the threat of a new impeachment by Parliament on Tuesday.
Shortly after Sebastian Kurz's announcement, Werner Kogler hailed "
an appropriate decision
", now hoping to "
continue government work
" with Alexander Schallenberg.
"
Phantom Chancellor
"
The opposition was less enthusiastic, deploring the continuation of the "
Kurz system
". "
We can summarize: for an hour Mr. Kurz is no longer chancellor, but phantom chancellor
", reacted the leader of the social democratic opposition Pamela Rendi-Wagner. Alexander Kurz is believed to have used government funds in the past to secure favorable media coverage. According to the prosecution, between 2016 and 2018, laudatory articles and opinion studies "
partially manipulated
" would have been published in exchange for the purchase of advertising space by the Ministry of Finance, managed at the time by the conservatives.
Sebastian Kurz and nine other suspects, as well as three organizations, are under investigation for various offenses related to this case.
Searches took place on Wednesday, in particular at the headquarters of the ÖVP and the chancellery.
The prosecutors' case is based on a series of telephone messages.
Pending the outcome of the investigation, Sebastian Kurz remains at the head of the Conservative Party and will sit in Parliament.
See alsoSebastian Kurz: "Austria can build bridges within Europe"
Entering the government as Secretary of State 10 years ago, then becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sebastian Kurz first came to the Chancellery in December 2017. Associated with the far-right party FPÖ, he saw his government swept away in May 2019 by a corruption scandal, known as Ibizagate.
He then returned to power in January 2020, this time alongside the Greens, a coalition that had already been challenged several times due to other cases and differing views on the refugee issue.