The new Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg is sworn-in by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen (not in the picture) in the presidential chancellery in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner)
The Associated Press
BERLIN (AP) - Austria got a new chancellor on Monday, two days after former leader Sebastian Kurz resigned amid corruption allegations, but the direction of government policy was not expected to change.
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen swore in Alexander Schallenberg, the former foreign minister, as chancellor. Career diplomat Michael Linhart became the country's new foreign minister.
Schallenberg, 52, told reporters later Monday that he would do 'œeverything to refill the trenches'ť caused by the recent government crisis and also 'œdo everything in my power to serve our beautiful country of Austria.'ť
He also said he would continue to work closely with the conservative Kurz. Both share a hard line on immigration.
Kurz, 35, announced Saturday that he would step aside to defuse a political crisis triggered by prosecutors' announcement that he is one of the targets of an investigation into suspected bribery and breach of trust. Kurz's junior coalition partners, the Greens, had demanded his replacement. Kurz denies any wrongdoing.
Kurz and his close associates are accused of trying to secure his rise to the leadership of his party and the country with the help of manipulated polls and friendly media reports financed with public money. Kurz became the leader of his Austrian People's Party and then chancellor in 2017.
Although he is stepping down as chancellor, he is keeping his role as party leader and becoming the head of its parliamentary group, keeping him at the heart of Austrian politics while he fights the corruption allegations.
Van der Bellen lauded the two new leaders' experience in representing Austria abroad, but also stressed the responsibility they have in restoring the Austrian people's confidence in the country's government.
'œWe all expect that the government will go back to work and move things forward together,'ť Van der Bellen said.
Schallenberg served as the country's foreign minister since 2019, while Linhart was Austria's ambassador to France.
Kurz rejected allegations that he would try to hang on to power, the Austrian news agency APA reported.
'œOne thing is clear: I'm no shadow chancellor,'ť Kurz said in a statement. 'œI will work at high speed in the coming days to make sure there's an orderly transition.'ť
The new Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg is sworn-in by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen (not in the picture) in the presidential chancellery in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner)
The Associated Press
The new Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg is sworn-in by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen (not in the picture) in the presidential chancellery in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner)
The Associated Press
The new Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, left, and the new Foreign Minister Michael Linhart arrive for the swearing-in ceremony in the presidential chancellery in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner)
The Associated Press
The new Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg enters the room before he is sworn-in by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in the presidential chancellery in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner)
The Associated Press
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen addresses holds a speech about the political situation in the country at his residence the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. The Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigned on Saturday, October 9, to defuse a government crisis that was triggered by the announcement by the public prosecutor that he was the target of a corruption investigation. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner)
The Associated Press
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen addresses holds a speech about the political situation in the country at his residence the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. The Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigned on Saturday, October 9, to defuse a government crisis that was triggered by the announcement by the public prosecutor that he was the target of a corruption investigation. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021 file photo, Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz speaks during a press conference after talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Saturday Oct. 9, 2021, that he plans to step down in an effort to defuse a government crisis triggered by prosecutors' announcement that he is a target of a corruption investigation. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
The Associated Press