The Austrian far-right leader has said in his first comments after being tasked to form a new government that he aspires to “govern Austria honestly” as he prepares for talks on a potential coalition.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has asked the leader of the country's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) to form a new ruling coalition in what could yield the first far-right-led government in Austria since World War Two.

The leader of Austria’s Freedom Party received a mandate Monday to form a new government, which would be the first headed by the far right since World War II if he succeeds.

The leader of the anti-immigration, pro-Russia Freedom Party has been given the chance to try to form a government after months of coalition talks among mainstream parties collapsed.

Kickl, the leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), is set to take power as the country’s next chancellor in a coalition with the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) after he was asked Monday to form the country’s next government.

He is so abrasive that he has one of Austria's lowest personal approval ratings, but far-right chief Herbert Kickl's strategic cunning helped his party to its first ever national election win and he now has a chance to become its first chancellor.