Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP), who, after Nehammer's resignation, is also the longest-serving member and head of government, has decided not to be part of the next government.

Schallenberg Sees Time for Change After Six Years

After nearly six years as a member of the Austrian federal government, he has decided that the time is ripe for a change, according to Schallenberg. This decision did not come out of nowhere: "It is well-considered and has been maturing within me since the beginning of the year." Therefore, at the beginning of the week, he informed VP leader Christian Stocker that he would no longer be part of the next federal government. Serving the people of Austria has been the greatest honor of his life.

NEOS Could Appoint Foreign Minister

Schallenberg had already announced that he would not want to be part of a government with the Freedom Party. In another constellation, he had not ruled it out until now. Some see his withdrawal at this time as an indication that in the future government, the foreign office (alongside the education department) could fall to the NEOS.

Schallenberg Began in the Foreign Ministry in 1997

The trained lawyer and diplomat Schallenberg first joined the Foreign Ministry in 1997. Later, he served as a spokesperson for several ministers before being appointed to the expert government after the fall of the Kurz cabinet and leading the foreign office himself. After Kurz's later withdrawal during his second chancellorship, he even took over government affairs for about two months in 2021. Since Karl Nehammer's withdrawal in January, these have been temporarily in his hands again.

(APA/Red)

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