Austrian chancellor steps down after election drubbing

Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann announced on the 9 May 2016 that he would step down as Chancellor and would also resign as head of the Social Democrats.

He said he was stepping down after losing support from within his own party. This had come to a head following the party's candidate being knocked out of the 2016 Austrian presidential election on the 24 April 2016. He also said there were disagreements within his party over the migrant crisis, and whether to cooperate with the right-wing Freedom Party 9(FPÖ).

News sources suggested on the 12 May 2016 that Christian Kern would be named as Austria’s new Chancellor and leader of the Social-Democratic Party (SPÖ) on the 13 May 2016, with a new government being presented the following week. The announcement was formally made on the 13 May 2016.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Austrian presidential election, 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/austrian-presidential-election-2016/

ESO: Background information: Is Austria turning blue? http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-austria-turning-blue/

ESO: Background information: A long goodbye to the grand coalition: Austria’s presidential election http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-long-goodbye-to-the-grand-coalition-austrias-presidential-election/

ESO: Background information: Austrian far-right party sweeps first round of presidential election http://www.europeansources.info/record/austrian-far-right-party-sweeps-first-round-of-presidential-election/

BBC News, 09.05.16: Shock as Austrian Chancellor Faymann quits http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36245316

Deutsche Welle, 09.05.16: Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann steps down http://dw.com/p/1IkKw

Politico, 09.05.16: Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann resigns http://www.politico.eu/article/austrian-chancellor-werner-faymann-resigns/

Deutsche Welle, 09.05.16: [Opinion]: Worst crisis for Austrian Social Democrats since WWII http://dw.com/p/1IkkV

EurActiv, 09.05.16: Austrian PM Faymann steps down http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/austrian-pm-faymann-steps-down/

EUObserver, 10.05.16: Chancellor's fall highlights Austria's far-right challenge https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/133379

Euro|Topics: Debates, May 2016: Why is Faymann stepping down? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/158828/why-is-faymann-stepping-down

EurActiv, 10.05.16: Austria in search of ‘pragmatic’ premier to replace Faymann http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/austria-in-search-of-pragmatic-premier-to-replace-faymann/

Politico, 12.05.16: Christian Kern named as new Austrian Chancellor http://www.politico.eu/article/christian-kern-named-as-new-austrian-chancellor/

The Local.at, 12.05.16: Rail boss Kern looks set to be new Austrian chancellor http://www.thelocal.at/20160512/rail-boss-kern-looks-set-to-be-new-austrian-chancellor

EurActiv, 13.05.16: Christian Kern to become Austria’s chancellor http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/christian-kern-to-become-austrias-chancellor/

Euro|Topics: Debates, May 2016: Christian Kern to succeed Faymann http://www.eurotopics.net/en/159010/christian-kern-to-succeed-faymann

The Local.at, 13.05.16: Rail boss Kern chosen as Austria's new chancellor http://www.thelocal.at/20160513/rail-boss-kern-chosen-as-austrias-new-chancellor

Deutsche Welle, 12.05.16: Christian Kern, likely new chancellor of Austria http://dw.com/p/1ImNI

The Local.at, 17.05.16: Austria swears in new chancellor as far-right looms http://www.thelocal.at/20160517/austria-to-swear-in-new-chancellor-as-far-right-threat-looms

Politico, 17.05.16: Austria’s new chancellor refuses to rule out working with far right http://www.politico.eu/article/new-austrian-chancellor-news-far-right-christian-kern-posssible-principles-power/

Euro|Topics: Debates, May 2016: Can Kern steer Austria out of the crisis? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/159010/can-kern-steer-austria-out-of-the-crisis

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