Austrian lawmakers voted for a no-confidence motion against Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s government, marking the end of his People’s Party’s hold on power.

The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) — Kurz’s former coalition ally — joined center-left Social Democrats and the leftist environmentalist Jetzt (Now) party in the motion against both Kurz and his government.

The liberal NEOS party voted against the motion, saying it preferred to avoid further political instability.

Kurz’s caretaker minority government, including experts and senior public servants, was sworn into office last week.

An interim government is to be appointed on Tuesday morning by Austrian President Van der Bellen. The administration is to be tasked with running the government until anational election slated for September.

Kurz held an election rally less than three hours after the vote, and promised he would stand again. “I am still here,” he told supporters. “They cannot stop the change we have started.”

“In the end the people will decide in September, and I’m happy about that,” he said, accompanied by chants of “Chancellor Kurz” from the crowd.

Source: DW