On Thursday evening, Alexander Schallenberg announced that he would make the office of Federal Chancellor available – “as soon as the relevant course has been set within the party”.
“It is not my intention and has never been my goal to take over the function of federal party leader of the New People’s Party. I firmly believe that both offices – head of government and federal party leader of Austria’s party with the strongest vote – should quickly be reunited in one hand”, Schallenberg declared his resignation in a written statement. He said he was ready “in a very challenging phase for the Federal Government and the New People’s Party” to take over the office of Chancellor.
The former Foreign Minister was only sworn in as Chancellor by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen on October 11th – after Kurz resigned as head of government in connection with corruption investigations against him and those around him. In the written statement, Schallenberg did not say whether he would like to return to the Foreign Ministry. But he paid Kurz “great respect” for the decision to also give up all other political posts (club chairman, party chairman).
Source From: Nachrichten
