AUSTRIA - Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked Herbert Kickl, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), the country's most popular political force, with holding coalition talks to form a government. The development comes after weeks of negotiations between the centrist Austrian People’s Party (OVP) and the Social Democratic Party (SPO) collapsed. Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who leads the OVP, has admitted the failure and announced his resignation, citing the need for an “orderly transition.” Van der Bellen stated that he had directed Kickl to initiate discussions with the OVP. He also appeared to express concerns that the country might face the possibility of having a hardline right-wing leader for the first time since World War II. “I didn’t take this decision lightly. I will continue to make sure that the principles and rules of our constitution are respected and upheld,” Van der Bellen stated.