Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) with forming a coalition government after a centrist bid to assemble one without the FPO collapsed unexpectedly. The FPO, a eurosceptic and Russia-friendly party, will now enter talks with its only potential partner, the conservative People's Party (OVP). The OVP's attempts to assemble a coalition with other centrist parties fell apart, prompting the resignation of its leader, Chancellor Karl Nehammer. If the talks between the FPO and OVP fail, a snap election is likely.