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| New Austria leader Kern won't rule out working with far-right | New Austria leader Kern won't rule out working with far-right |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Austria's new chancellor has refused to rule out co-operation with the country's far-right Freedom Party. | Austria's new chancellor has refused to rule out co-operation with the country's far-right Freedom Party. |
| However the Social Democrat (SPO) Christian Kern said he could not work with any groups that "incite against people and minorities". | |
| He was sworn in on Tuesday, replacing Werner Faymann who quit after losing the support of party colleagues. | He was sworn in on Tuesday, replacing Werner Faymann who quit after losing the support of party colleagues. |
| The SPO were trounced in the first round of presidential elections last month by the Freedom Party. | |
| The vote was won by the far-right party's candidate Norbert Hofer, who faces a run-off against the Greens' Alexander Van der Bellen for the mostly ceremonial role. | The vote was won by the far-right party's candidate Norbert Hofer, who faces a run-off against the Greens' Alexander Van der Bellen for the mostly ceremonial role. |
| It was the first time since World War Two that candidates from Austria's two main parties, the centre-left SPO and the centre-right People's Party, did not make it to the run-off. | It was the first time since World War Two that candidates from Austria's two main parties, the centre-left SPO and the centre-right People's Party, did not make it to the run-off. |
| Mr Hofer has suggested that if elected he could use his power to dismiss the government of the day under certain circumstances. | Mr Hofer has suggested that if elected he could use his power to dismiss the government of the day under certain circumstances. |
| At a news conference, Mr Kern said working with the Freedom Party was possible if certain criteria were met, without specifying what they might be. | At a news conference, Mr Kern said working with the Freedom Party was possible if certain criteria were met, without specifying what they might be. |
| He added: "My plan is not to lead the SPO into opposition, the opposite is true. | He added: "My plan is not to lead the SPO into opposition, the opposite is true. |
| "But at the end of the day we need an identity and for us it is absolutely unimaginable to work with parties who incite against people and minorities." | "But at the end of the day we need an identity and for us it is absolutely unimaginable to work with parties who incite against people and minorities." |
| Swearing in Mr Kern at a ceremony in Vienna, outgoing President Heinz Fischer said: "You are taking on a great and beautiful but also difficult role with a lot of responsibilities." | Swearing in Mr Kern at a ceremony in Vienna, outgoing President Heinz Fischer said: "You are taking on a great and beautiful but also difficult role with a lot of responsibilities." |
| Austria's new chancellor | Austria's new chancellor |