Austria's far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) began coalition talks with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the latter said on Thursday, after the failure of previous parties to form a government.

Austrian far-right Freedom Party (FPO) leader Herbert Kickl called on the conservative People's Party (OVP) to be "honest" in their imminent coalition talks or face the prospect of a snap election, with his support still rising and the OVP's falling.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was named as interim chancellor on Wednesday as barbs between rival leaders began to fly ahead of new coalition talks led by the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will serve as the country's interim leader while the far-right Freedom Party attempts to put together a new coalition government, the president's office said Wednesday.

The new, interim leader of Austria's conservatives demanded assurances from the far right on Wednesday that they want to keep Austria free from Russian interference, laying out potential flashpoints as they head into coalition talks.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is to serve as interim chancellor until a new government is found, the office of President Alexander van der Bellen announced on Wednesday. Schallenberg is to lead the current coalition between the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Greens,