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1st LD Writethru: Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann steps down

Xinhua, May 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann on Monday announced his resignation, the Chancellery confirmed with Xinhua.

In a brief statement, Faymann said the support within his Social Democratic Party (SPO) for him is insufficient and he resigns as SPO chief and the Austrian Chancellor.

"The majority support (in the party) is not enough," he said, adding that Austria needs a chancellor fully supported by the party.

Austria, faced with growing jobless rate and migrants crisis, is looking for a way out.

Under the pressure from both the public and his party, Faymann had been struggling in his chancellery, especially after the poor performance of SPO and its coalition partner in last month's first round of the presidential election.

Austrian right-wing Freedom Party (FPO) candidate Norbert Hofer came first in the April 24 election and a former head of the Greens came second. They will face each other in a runoff set for May 22.

It was the first time after World War II the candidate from ruling coalition parities SPO and People's Party (OVP) were not able to enter the second round.

Faymann was reportedly asked by some members of his party of resign recently.

Faymann has been Austrian chancellor and chief of SPO since 2008. Endit