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Austria's new coalition government with far-right party forbids country from Brexit-style EU breakaway

Austria's new coalition: People's Party leader Sebastian Kurz (right) with Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache: EPA
Austria's new coalition: People's Party leader Sebastian Kurz (right) with Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache: EPA

Austria’s new coalition government of conservatives and far-right nationalists has pledged to tighten up the country’s immigration rules - but added the country will not have its own Brexit.

The country’s government will be sworn in on Monday after the two parties agreed a deal late on Friday night.

Sebastian Kurz, head of the Austrian People's Party, will become chancellor, which will make him Europe's youngest leader at the age of 31.

Entering into coalition with him will be the far-right anti-immigration Freedom Party, whose leader Heinz-Christian Strache will become vice chancellor. His party colleagues will run the defence, health and social security ministries.

"This can be the basis for real change in Austria," Mr Kurz told reporters, introducing the government agreement which was released on Saturday.

The new chancellor Sebastian Kurz and vice chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache. (REUTERS)
The new chancellor Sebastian Kurz and vice chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache. (REUTERS)

The new government will maintain a firm commitment to the European Union, forbidding any referendums similar to Brexit – despite the Freedom Party being euro-sceptic.

"Only in a strong Europe can there also be a strong Austria, in which we are able to take advantage of the opportunities of the 21st century," the document reads.

The People's Party-Freedom Party partnership is expected to move the country to the right. Both campaigned on the need for tougher immigration controls, quick deportations of asylum-seekers whose requests are denied and a crackdown on radical Islam.

Future Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will be the youngest European leader. (AFP/Getty Images)
Future Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will be the youngest European leader. (AFP/Getty Images)

The coalition agreement calls for bolstering the country's police forces with another 2,100 officers, as well as immigration policies that "can be sustained by the population." It also says asylum should only be offered to people "for the duration of their persecution, who really need Austria's help"

The conservative People’s Party finished first in the country's October 15 election, winning 32 per cent of the vote and securing 62 of the 183 national council seats.

Its leader Mr Kurz then embarked on coalition talks with the right-wing Freedom Party, which came in third after the center-left Social Democrats.

Mr Kurz is the foreign minister in the outgoing government under Chancellor Christian Kern, a Social Democrat. He has stressed the importance of a pro-European direction and is expected to continue to take the lead on European issues.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said after he was presented with the coalition agreement and minister choices earlier Saturday that he saw no issues preventing the new government from being sworn in.

Following meetings with Mr Kurz and Mr Strache, Mr Van der Bellen said he'd been assured a "pro-European" focus was central to that of the new government.

"In these talks, among other things, we agreed it is in the national interest of Austria to remain at the centre of a strong European Union and to actively participate in the future development of the European Union," he said.