Coalition talks between Austria's two biggest centrist parties collapse

Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced the collapse of coalition talks between Austria's centrist parties, signaling his impending resignation and the potential rise of the far-right FPO.

The collapse of negotiations was precipitated by the small liberal Neos party quitting the talks, citing other parties' lack of bold action as the primary reason.

With Nehammer stepping down and the FPO's rising popularity since the last election, political uncertainty looms over whether Herbert Kickl will form a government or if a snap election will occur.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen's subsequent options revolve around either tasking FPO leader Herbert Kickl with forming a government or initiating a snap election.

Read at www.theguardian.com