Austria's first three-party government since the aftermath of World War Two took office on Monday, ending the country's longest-ever wait for a ruling coalition and keeping the Russia-friendly, far-right Freedom Party (FPO) out of power.

The announcement was a victory for mainstream political parties, after earlier talks involving the hard-right Freedom Party broke down.

VIENNA (AP) — Austria’s new government took office on Monday, with Christian Stocker taking over as chancellor at the head of a three-party coalition after a five-month wait for a new administration.

The Freedom Party has sought to join the rising tide of hard-right movements across Europe by tapping into voter anger over immigration, inflation and the European Union’s influence.

Austria's new three-party coalition government comprising the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the liberal NEOS was sworn in on Monday, ending months of political deadlock in the Alpine nation.

VIENNA: Austria's first three-party coalition since the aftermath of World War Two took office on Monday, ending the country's longest-ever wait for

Austria's centrist coalition government, the first three-party alliance since the aftermath of World War Two, took office on Monday, ending Austria's longest-ever wait for a new government and keeping the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) in opposition.

Austria's conservative People's Party (OeVP) leader Christian Stocker on Monday became the country's unlikely new chancellor to head a three-party governing coalition, weeks after the far right failed to form a government.