Government formation in Austria collapsed: Chancellor Nehammer announces resignation
By Albert Otti
Vienna - Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer (52) wants to resign as head of government and leader of the conservative ÖVP.

Following the failure of the coalition negotiations, he will withdraw from these posts in the coming days, he said in a video message.
Following the withdrawal of the liberal Neos party from three-way talks on a coalition with the ÖVP and the social democratic SPÖ on Friday, the ÖVP and SPÖ tried in vain to continue negotiations in pairs on Saturday.
"It is obvious that the destructive forces in the SPÖ have gained the upper hand," said Nehammer, confirming the end of these talks as well.
He emphasized that the ÖVP would not agree to any programme that was hostile to the economy and performance.
Will the FPÖ now benefit from new elections?

At the same time, Nehammer made it clear that he was still not prepared to enter into coalition talks with the right-wing FPÖ under Herbert Kickl (56).
"It is my deep conviction that radicals do not offer a solution to a single problem," said Nehammer.
The economic wing of his party, on the other hand, prefers a coalition with the FPÖ rather than the SPÖ.
The FPÖ won the election in September. The three centrist parties then tried to forge a coalition and keep the right-wing parties out of power. If there are now new elections, the FPÖ could expect an even clearer victory than before, according to the latest polls.
First reported at 19:40, last updated at 20:31.