Loading...

Austria's new coalition govt sworn in

| Updated: January 14, 2020 13:34:03


Austria's new Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (R) shakes hands with Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen during the swearing-in ceremony in Vienna, Austria, Jan. 7, 2020.(Xinhua/Guo Chen) Austria's new Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (R) shakes hands with Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen during the swearing-in ceremony in Vienna, Austria, Jan. 7, 2020.(Xinhua/Guo Chen)

Austria's new coalition government was sworn in by President Alexander Van der Bellen at the presidential residence of Hofburg Palace on Tuesday.

The new government is the first conservative-green coalition in Austria and the first female-majority cabinet. And its Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the People's Party (OVP) is still by far the world's youngest head of government at the beginning of his second term at 33.

The OVP has 10 ministers in the new coalition, while the Greens have five with its party chief Werner Kogler, 58, taking on the vice-chancellor post.

The OVP ministers are responsible for areas such as education, economy, finance, integration, agriculture, tourism, internal affairs, defence, Europe and family.

The Greens are leading the ministries responsible for justice, social security, environment and infrastructure, sports, art and culture.

Independent politician and career diplomat Alexander Schallenberg serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is the only one of the transitional government to remain in office.

Share if you like

Filter By Topic