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Analysis: Haider's tactical move
Mr Haider's political career is far from over
By the BBC's Katya Adler in Vienna
One thing is always true of Joerg Haider - he is full of surprises.
Just this weekend, he told a leading Austrian magazine that he aimed to be voted Chancellor in Austria's next elections.
Shortly after that interview he resigned as the Freedom Party leader.
Some describe it as an impetuous gesture, provoked by the harsh criticism, both at home and abroad, since the right-wing Freedom Party joined the Austrian government at the beginning of February.
One thing is always true of Joerg Haider - he is full of surprises.
Just this weekend, he told a leading Austrian magazine that he aimed to be voted Chancellor in Austria's next elections.
Shortly after that interview he resigned as the Freedom Party leader.
Some describe it as an impetuous gesture, provoked by the harsh criticism, both at home and abroad, since the right-wing Freedom Party joined the Austrian government at the beginning of February.
 He insists he is not retiring from national politics
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Yet there is strong reason to believe that Joerg Haider's resignation was in fact a tactical move.
It is by no means the end of his political career.
Mr Haider will remain the governor of Carinthia, Austria's southernmost province, awarding him a lower political profile and diverting hostile attention away from him.
Mr Haider has another good reason to distance himself from the Freedom Party leadership.
Broken promises
Whereas it was strong in opposition, the party has so far made a feeble impression in government, breaking several of its key election promises, such as not to increase taxes or raise the minimum pension age.
Another problem facing the Freedom Party is that its government ministers are rumoured to be too inexperienced for their new jobs.
The 31 year-old Finance Minister, Karl-Heinz Grasser, has a huge national deficit and a budget to balance over the next three weeks - a challenge many say he will not be able to meet.
As a regional governor and no longer the party head, such a political shambles can do no damage to Mr Haider's political career, and might enable him to rise out of the tatters of the present centre-right coalition and offer himself as the new party leader and Austrian Chancellor.
In the meantime, there is little doubt that, although no longer the leader of the Freedom Party in name, Joerg Haider's influence will continue to cast a long shadow over Vienna politics as long as his ministers remain in government.
Mr Haider will remain the governor of Carinthia, Austria's southernmost province, awarding him a lower political profile and diverting hostile attention away from him.
Mr Haider has another good reason to distance himself from the Freedom Party leadership.
Broken promises
Whereas it was strong in opposition, the party has so far made a feeble impression in government, breaking several of its key election promises, such as not to increase taxes or raise the minimum pension age.
Another problem facing the Freedom Party is that its government ministers are rumoured to be too inexperienced for their new jobs.
The 31 year-old Finance Minister, Karl-Heinz Grasser, has a huge national deficit and a budget to balance over the next three weeks - a challenge many say he will not be able to meet.
As a regional governor and no longer the party head, such a political shambles can do no damage to Mr Haider's political career, and might enable him to rise out of the tatters of the present centre-right coalition and offer himself as the new party leader and Austrian Chancellor.
In the meantime, there is little doubt that, although no longer the leader of the Freedom Party in name, Joerg Haider's influence will continue to cast a long shadow over Vienna politics as long as his ministers remain in government.
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