Just months before becoming chancellor of Austria on Monday, Christian Stocker was a party functionary with no ministerial experience, fast approaching retirement age and barely known outside the political bubble.

AUSTRIA’S new government took office today, with Christian Stocker appointed chancellor at the head of a previously untried three-party coalition after a five-month wait for a new administration. The new government will have to deal with rising unemployment, a recession and a creaking budget.

Christian Stocker’s steady, pragmatic style helped him rise to Austria’s top job. His biggest test now is keeping the coalition together.