New Austrian Chancellor Nehammer sworn in

Karl Nehammer was sworn in as Austrian chancellor by President Alexander Van der Bellen on December 6 in a ceremony in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace as the country’s third leader in three months, Report informs referring to DW.

He now faces the task of trying to free the coalition government from the taint of months of political turmoil and scandal and of creating conditions conducive to lifting the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

Nehammer, 49, from the ruling conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), was formerly the country’s interior minister.

Outgoing Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg offered his resignation on December 2. One day later, the ÖVP nominated Nehammer as new party head — succeeding former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in the position — and chancellor.