"A good mix"

Now live: Who is in the ÖVP government team

The new ÖVP government team with ministers and state secretaries

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

On Friday, the ÖVP set the final course towards a sugar-coalition. The members of the future Turkish government team were announced at a press conference at midday. "I think it's a good mix," said party leader Christian Stocker.

The People's Party has a total of six ministries and three state secretaries. The new Chancellor will be the acting party leader Christian Stocker.

The most important facts in brief:

• The ÖVP appoints Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce, as the new Minister for Economic Affairs.

• Claudia Plakolm takes over the portfolio for Family, Youth, EU and Integration.

• Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig retain their responsibilities.

• The current Secretary General Alexander Pröll will become State Secretary in the Federal Chancellery. Elisabeth Zehetner, head of oecolution, will support Hattmannsdorfer in the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

• State Secretary in the red Ministry of Finance will be Styrian State Councillor Barbara Eibinger-Miedl.

Pictures of the ÖVP government members:

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Claudia Plakolm

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Norbert Totschnig

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Alexander Pröll

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Elisabeth Zehetner

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

From left: Alexander Pröll, Elisabeth Zehetner, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner and Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Special focus on the Ministry of the Interior
"The Ministry of the Interior will become a central department," emphasized Stocker. And added: "I am all the more pleased that this department will continue to be headed by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner." This would allow the work to continue successfully, especially in the areas of asylum and migration.

"Fighter for economic policy"
Stocker justified the decision in favor of Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, who had been present in the coalition negotiations from the very beginning, with the "challenging times" for economic policy. The WKÖ Secretary General is a "fighter" for the business location and competitiveness. His future State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner, in turn, who has also been Managing Director of Young Economy for many years, has shown "that technology and innovation are the key to effective climate protection".

Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer becomes new Minister of Economic Affairs

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Unanimous decision in the ÖVP board for government program
"I am convinced that it has become a very good program," said Stocker, expressing his relief at the conclusion of the negotiations with the SPÖ and NEOS. The government program was presented to the federal party executive on Friday morning and was unanimously approved.
According to Stocker, the personnel was also discussed and this was also unanimously approved.

Pröll also becomes Turkish government coordinator
As State Secretary in the Chancellery, Alexander Pröll will also take over government coordination for the ÖVP, Stocker announced. He had already shown in the negotiations "that he not only has the necessary skills, but also the tact and sensitivity". Pröll will also be responsible for the area of digitalization.

The ÖVP leader also paid tribute to the already established members of the government, as well as to August Wöginger and his work in the previous coalition: "He was the hinge that connected many parts."

The future chancellor also justified the rather large number of government members (Zuckerl coalition has 14 ministers and 7 state secretaries). Due to the large number of sections, the work is easier to manage, Stocker argued.

We have always been prepared to take on responsibility. We are taking on this responsibility as a team, with all sections of the People's Party.

ÖVP-Parteichef Christian Stocker

Nico Marchetti becomes new ÖVP General Secretary
It is now also clear who will succeed Alexander Pröll as ÖVP General Secretary. It is the Viennese member of the National Council Nico Marchetti. The 35-year-old has been a member of the National Council for the ÖVP since 2017 and has his political home in the Young People's Party.

Viennese Nico Marchetti has been a member of the National Council for the ÖVP since 2017 and has his political home in the Young People's Party.

(Bild: APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

Dominik Ramusch has been appointed as the new ÖVP Federal Managing Director. The 32-year-old from Carinthia also comes from the Young ÖVP and also stood as a top candidate for the ÖVP-affiliated action group in elections for the Austrian Student Union.

Inauguration probably on Monday
Meanwhile, the schedule for the start of the new federal government is already being worked on diligently in the background. It is generally expected that the swearing-in ceremony by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will take place on Monday in the Hofburg. The three-party coalition will then present itself in parliament later in the week. There is no official date for this yet either, but the government statement could take place on Friday.

NEOS general meeting as the final hurdle
The only thing that is clear is that Van der Bellen will hold talks with the designated ministers and state secretaries over the course of the weekend, although the individual dates have not been announced. Otherwise, the NEOS general meeting on Sunday will be awaited as the final hurdle, at which the three-party coalition still has to obtain a two-thirds majority. Only then will it be possible to decide on a date for the inauguration of the new federal government, according to the presidential chancellery on Friday.