Austria's president welcomed Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's resignation Sunday and demanded that the country's politicians work hard to restore voters' trust after a several-day drama that brought the government to the brink of collapse.
President Alexander Van der Bellen said he will swear in Alexander Schallenberg, currently Austria's foreign minister, as chancellor today.
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.
The conservative Kurz's junior coalition partners, the Greens, had demanded his replacement. Kurz denies any wrongdoing.
Van der Bellen, whose role makes him an important referee in political crises, said Kurz "made an important contribution to the integrity of our institutions being protected."
But "in recent days, citizens' trust in politics has been shaken once more, massively shaken," Van der Bellen said in Vienna. "It is up to all those who carry political responsibility, but particularly those in government, to restore this trust in the coming months."
"Words alone aren't enough," he added. "This can only be done with serious and concentrated work, work and more work."
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.
Kurz responded to the demand for an untainted new leader by proposing Schallenberg, 52, a move that the Greens accepted. Schallenberg has been loyal to Kurz and shares his hard line on curbing migration, but has a background in diplomacy rather than party politics.
Schallenberg said Sunday his elevation was "a surprise for us all" and he faced "an enormously challenging task."
![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)]()
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)
![FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 file photo, Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters. 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. Kurz, 35, said he has proposed that Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg replace him. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, Pool, File)]()
FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 file photo, Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters. 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. Kurz, 35, said he has proposed that Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg replace him. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, Pool, File)
![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)]()
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)
![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, Austria, 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)]()
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, Austria, 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)
![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)]()
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)
