In Austria, Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that he would step down in the coming days after coalition talks between his People’s Party and the Social Democrats collapsed. He will also resign as the leader of the People’s Party. In a social media post yesterday, Nehammer said that his party has ended the negotiations with the Social Democratic Party to form a new government due to disagreement over key issues.

Nehammer’s surprise move came just one day after the NEOS party pulled out of the coalition negotiations to form an unprecedented three-party government. Following the NEOS’ withdrawal, the People’s Party and the Social Democratic Party confirmed late on Friday to continue their two-party coalition talks.

Negotiations between the three parties had dragged on since mid-November last year, following Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen’s decision in October to task the People’s Party with forming a government.