Austrian president to swear in coalition tomorrow

A new Austrian government of conservatives and the far-right Freedom Party will be sworn in tomorrow by President Thomas Klestil tomorrow, a presidency official has said. Klestil is reported to have refused Freedom Party claims to two ministerial portfolios. The President, Thomas Klestil, was known to be reluctant to swear-in the coalition because of the risk of global isolation. The Conservative leader, Wolfgang Schuessel, and his Freedom Party counterpart, Joerg Haider, have signed a declaration underlining their commitment to democracy.

European MPs have voted overwhelmingly to condemn the participation of the Freedom Party in government in Austria. The European Parliament urged the European Union to be ready to suspend any Austrian government if it breached basic EU principles. Austria's 14 EU partners have threatened to freeze bilateral ties with Vienna. Israel has threatened to withdraw its ambassador.