The chancellor said his party – the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) – and the Social Democrats had failed to agree on key issues.

The liberal Neos, another party involved in the talks, also pulled out on Friday.

In September the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) won an unprecedented victory in Austria’s general election, but the other parties ruled out forming a coalition with the FPÖ’s leader Herbert Kickl.

The collapse of the talks could lead to the conservatives negotiating with the far-right, or to a new election taking place, analysts have said.

The Russia-friendly FPÖ has been in a ruling coalition before. It would likely welcome a new election as opinion polls suggest its popularity has grown further since September.

The FPÖ has said in a statement on X that three months have been lost by the coalition talks and adds that “instead of stability, we have chaos”.

The party has called for Social Democrat leader Andreas Babler to also resign and said President Alexander Van der Bellen bears “a significant share of responsibility for the chaos that has arisen and the lost time”.

The FPÖ won almost 29% of the vote in September’s election, the People’s Party came second with 26.3% and the Social Democrats third, with 21%.

There was a high turnout of 77.3% as Austrian voters took part in an election dominated by the twin issues of migration and asylum, as well as a flagging economy and the war in Ukraine.

The FPÖ’s Kickl promised to build “Fortress Austria”, to restore Austrians’ security and prosperity.

The party wants firm rules on legal immigration and it has promoted the idea of remigration, which involves sending asylum seekers to their original countries.

The FPÖ was founded by former Nazis in the 1950s.

Two days before last year’s general election vote some of its candidates were caught on video at a funeral where an SS song was sung.

The party later denied the song, dating back to 1814, had any link to “National Socialist sentiments”.

By BBC News

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With a population of just over 700 residents, Hallstatt has been grappling with a staggering influx of up to 10,000 visitors per day during peak tourist season.

Inhabitants of this picturesque town are demanding measures to curtail the surging tourist numbers, particularly advocating for daily visitor quotas and a prohibition on tour buses entering the town after 17:00 local time.

While tourism has undoubtedly brought economic benefits to Hallstatt, a growing chorus of residents is asserting that the sheer volume of visitors is eroding the town’s charm and vitality.

Hallstatt’s allure was amplified when it featured prominently in a South Korean romantic drama in 2006, subsequently catapulting its popularity, especially in Asia.

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The town’s stunning blend of charming old houses gracing the shores of an Alpine lake encircled by rugged peaks has become a magnet for travelers seeking the perfect photo opportunity.

However, the surge in visitors, particularly day-trippers arriving via large coaches, has sparked a debate on the issue of over-tourism.

Hallstatt now finds itself grappling with the double-edged sword of its own popularity, a predicament familiar to destinations like Venice.

In a symbolic protest this past May, local residents erected a temporary wooden barrier to obstruct the breathtaking view of the Alps – a hotspot for selfie enthusiasts. This move was aimed at highlighting grievances related to noise pollution and traffic congestion resulting from the influx of visitors.

Hallstatt, which used to receive around a million visitors annually before the pandemic, now finds itself at a crossroads as it seeks to strike a balance between reaping the economic benefits of tourism and preserving the unique character that has made it a globally renowned destination.

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