Three parties say they have reached a deal to form a new centrist Austrian government, five months after an election was won by a far-right party that later failed in an attempt to form an administration.

Three Austrian mainstream parties said they had come to an agreement, elbowing aside the far-right group that had won the country’s election.

Previously it had appeared as though Austria would exit the German-founded Sky Shield air defense project under a far-right government.

Austria's centrist parties agree to form a coalition without the far-right election winner Freedom Party:: :: Andreas Babler, SPO leader :: "I am very happy and proud to be able to stand here with you both today to present our joint government programme.

The three biggest centrist parties in Austria's parliament have agreed to form a new coalition government, sidelining the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) even though it came first in September's parliamentary election.

Three moderate Austrian parties struck a deal to form a new government, moving ahead with a coalition which will need to make deep budget cuts in an economy trying to exit a second year of recession.

The Freedom Party has sought to join the rising tide of hard-right movements across Europe by tapping into voter anger over immigration, inflation and the European Union’s influence.

Thursday's announcement follows the longest period of coalition negotiations in Austria's recent history, after two previous attempts to form a government failed. The three-party government, which would be the first since the late 1940s,

The leaders of Austria’s three main political parties – People’s Party, Social Democratic Party, and Liberal Party -- announced today the successful conclusion of negotiations to form the country’s first-ever three-party ruling coalition,