Government Must Improve: Now Follows Second Swearing-In Round

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will assign tasks to Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler, Social Minister Korinna Schumann (both SPÖ), Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS), and Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (ÖVP). Three state secretaries will also have to come again.

New Swearing-In Ceremonies After Changes in the Federal Ministries Act

As with every change of government, the scope of responsibilities in some ministries has changed with the three-party coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS. Although the new government was sworn in on March 3, the National Council still had to amend the old Federal Ministries Act for the specific reorganization. The coalition consists of 14 government members, plus seven state secretaries - an unusually high number for the Second Republic.

Chancellor Stocker Does Not Need to Be Sworn In Again

Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) does not need to be sworn in again. His deputy Babler takes over the agendas of housing, art, culture, housing, and sports, while Schumann officially receives the areas of labor, social affairs, health, care, and consumer protection. Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) is responsible for women, science, and research, and Wiederkehr is therefore solely responsible for education. Peter Hanke (SPÖ) will be the Minister for Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure.

Climate Protection Moves to the Minister of Agriculture

ÖVP government members must also return to the Hofburg on April 2: Norbert Totschnig remains Minister of Agriculture but additionally receives the areas of climate and environmental protection, which were previously under a separate ministry in the former ÖVP-Green government. Newcomer Hattmannsdorfer will be the Federal Minister for Economy, Energy, and Tourism. His party colleague Claudia Plakolm becomes Minister of the Chancellery. She will be responsible for families, youth, the EU, and integration.

State Secretaries Receive Their Portfolios at the New Swearing-In Ceremony

Three state secretaries must return to the Hofburg because the responsibilities of their ministers have changed. Michaela Schmidt (SPÖ) will support Vice Chancellor Babler in his areas. Hattmannsdorfer will receive support from his state secretary Elisabeth Zehetner-Piewald (ÖVP) in the Ministry of Economy, and Schumann from Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ).

(APA/Red)

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