Austrian Vice Chancellor Proell resigns

Apr 13, 2011, 12:12 GMT

Eds: Corrects abbreviation of People's Party, adds chancellor's reaction, background; epa photo 00000402685122 =

Vienna (dpa) - Austrian Vice Chancellor Josef Proell resigned from all political posts on Wednesday for health reasons, at a time when the centre-right People's Party (OeVP) he has led is grappling with corruption scandals.

Social Democratic Chancellor Werner Faymann made clear that the change at the top of the OeVP, the junior government coalition partner, would not lead to new elections.

'This government is so stable and the cooperation is so strong that this coalition will be continued,' Faymann said.

A recent poll has shown that the far-right Freedom Party could overtake both governing parties and claim the chancellorship if elections were called now.

Proell, 42, stepped down as Vice Chancellor, Finance Minister and OeVP chairman after having suffered a lung embolism and thrombosis in mid-March.

He made the decision after consulting with his doctors. 'It became clear that my health situation involves risks that are at odds with being a top politician over the long run,' he said at a press conference.

It was not immediately clear who would succeed him as party chief and vice chancellor, but many media commentators mentioned the name of Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger.

After he started serving as Vice Chancellor in 2008, Proell enjoyed high popularity ratings, especially due to his handling of the economic and financial crisis.

However, his party currently faces a credibility crisis after EU OeVP parliamentarian and former interior minister Ernst Strasser had to step down over allegations that he took money for influencing legislation.

Fellow party member and European parliamentarian Hella Ranner also resigned last month, after media accused her of using her expense account to pay off private debts.

Proell studied agricultural economics and entered politics in the late 1990s. After serving in senior functions in the Agriculture Ministry and the Farmer's Federation, he became agriculture minister in 2003.

From 2008, he took on the triple duties of deputy government chief, minister and party head.

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