Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg will take over as caretaker chancellor from Friday, as the far right seeks to form a government with the conservatives, the presidential office announced.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will serve as the country's interim leader while the far-right Freedom Party attempts to put together a new coalition government, the president's office said Wednesday.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is to serve as interim chancellor until a new government is formed, the office of President Alexander van der Bellen announced on Wednesday. Schallenberg is to lead the current coalition between the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Greens until a new government is formed.