(ANSA-AFP) - VIENNA, MAR 3 - Austria's conservative People's Party (OeVP) leader Christian Stocker on Monday became the country's unlikely new chancellor to head a three-party governing coalition, weeks after the far right failed to form a government. The Freedom Party (FPOe) won elections in September for the first time by securing almost a third of votes but it was unsuccessful in its bid to form Austria's first far right-led government with the runner-up conservatives last month. Capping the Alpine EU member's longest stretch without a government in its modern history, the OeVP and two centrist parties last week reached a deal to form a coalition. On Monday, local politician turned conservative leader Stocker was formally sworn in as chancellor by President Alexander Van der Bellen at a ceremony at Vienna's Hofburg Palace at 11:00 am (1000 GMT). Van der Bellen emphasised the importance of having a stable government as we are living in "challenging" times due to geopolitical tensions. "Especially... after last weekend," he said, referring to the reactions in Europe following the White House spat between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. "In Europe, there must be a new way of sticking together, both politically and in terms of joint peacekeeping". The new cabinet members were also sworn in at Monday's ceremony. (ANSA-AFP).