Second Kurz government

Last updated

Second Kurz Government
Flag of Austria.svg
33rd Cabinet of Austria
Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49351573722).jpg
Date formed7 January 2020 (2020-01-07)
Date dissolved11 October 2021 (2021-10-11)
People and organisations
Appointed by Alexander Van der Bellen
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz
Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler
Member parties People's Party
The Greens
Status in legislature Majority coalition
No. of ministers 15
Opposition parties Social Democratic Party
Freedom Party
NEOS
Opposition leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner
History
Election(s) 2019 legislative election
Predecessor Bierlein government
Successor Schallenberg government

The Second Kurz government (German : Zweite Bundesregierung Kurz or Kurz II for short) was the 33rd Government of Austria. Led by Sebastian Kurz as chancellor and Werner Kogler as vice-chancellor, it was sworn in by President Alexander Van der Bellen on 7 January 2020. It was officially dissolved and succeeded by the Schallenberg government on 11 October 2021. [1]

Contents

This government represents many firsts. Headed by a former chancellor who had been ousted in a parliamentary vote of no confidence and made a comeback by winning the 2019 legislative election, it marks an alliance of a centre-right Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) with the centre-left The Greens as junior partner in the national government; it was the only such coalition in Europe until June 2020. It also features a majority of female cabinet members. Chancellor Kurz himself is the youngest member of his own government and the youngest chief executive of any of the European Union's member states for the second time. The new political alliance is closely watched in Europe, especially in neighbouring Germany, as it could become the prototype for a new type of politics in which ascendant conservatives make common cause with green parties to tackle climate change, which has become a salient concern of voters.

The Second Kurz government succeeded the Bierlein government, a nonpartisan caretaker administration installed on 3 June 2019 to run Austria following the collapse of the First Kurz government in the wake of the Ibiza affair involving its coalition partner, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). The termination of the coalition of Kurz's party with the FPÖ was followed by a vote of no confidence in Parliament and snap election in which voter support for the FPÖ dropped sharply and support for the Greens surged to nearly 14%, its highest level ever. The ÖVP emerged victorious with 37% of the popular vote. Although the ÖVP won the election, it did not achieve a parliamentary majority in the National Council and therefore had to look for a junior coalition partner.

History

Demographics

The Second Kurz government is the first government in Austrian history in which women constitute the majority; it is also the youngest on average. Sebastian Kurz reclaimed the distinction of being the youngest head of government in Europe, aged 33. The youthfulness of the government also mirrors a younger electorate, Austria having lowered the voting age to 16, the lowest in Europe.

The Second Kurz government includes one cabinet member who is not a native Austrian, but came to the country as a refugee when she was a child, an element of personal biography she shares with President Alexander Van der Bellen.

Unprecedented coalition

The newly appointed ministers at the president's residence, the Hofburg on 7 January 2020 2020 Angelobung der Bundesregierung (49345516191).jpg
The newly appointed ministers at the president's residence, the Hofburg on 7 January 2020
Council of ministers on 8 January 2020 Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49351573722).jpg
Council of ministers on 8 January 2020

Sebastian Kurz, chairman of the People's Party, reached an agreement on a coalition with the centre-left Greens at the end of 2019, putting him on track to become chancellor of Austria for the second time, with Werner Kogler, leader of The Greens, as vice-chancellor. This marked a breakthrough for The Greens as it would be represented in the executive branch of government at the national level for the first time. The Greens had previously unsuccessfully participated in coalition talks at the national level and served as coalition partners in several state governments.

The novel form of the political partnership paved the way for the ÖVP to maintain its conservative line on immigration, but also put Austria on the forefront of the fight against climate change, with a Green minister in charge of that portfolio and an action plan towards carbon neutrality on a pace faster than the rest of the EU. [2] Kurz and Kogler differ not only in age, but also in style and manner of speech. Notwithstanding the odd-couple nature of the match, they have developed a good working relationship. Unlike Kurz, Kogler had to obtain the approval of his rank and file to enter the coalition government on the terms spelled out in the formal coalition agreement that the two party leaders had finalised and announced on New Year's Day. This was required by the charter of The Greens, which reflects its founders' commitment to grassroots democracy, while the ÖVP is more hierarchical and dominated by its constituent organisations in the corporatist tradition.

On 4 January 2020, more than 93 percent of the delegates at a special Green Congress convened in Salzburg backed the deal hammered out by the negotiating teams of the two parties and their leaders in more than two months of bargaining that covered the full spectrum of public policies, rather than just environmental issues. [3] [4] [5] In the floor debate, misgivings were expressed about too many concessions having been made in reaching a deal on a joint government programme that both parties and their respective supporters in the electorate can agree on. Some delegates expressed dissent in the areas of civil liberties and treatment of asylum seekers and migrants. They deplored the Greens' yielding on core humanitarian principles.

In recognition of internal party dissension, Kogler stressed on many occasions the need to practice political realism. Assuming responsibility for governing the country with the ÖVP offered the Greens an opportunity to participate directly in the shaping of the future course of public policy for the very first time. "When if not now?" Kogler proclaimed, under a banner highlighting the spirit and motto of the congress: "Facing the future with boldness". He expressed hope to set an example for the rest of Europe with green and conservative parties working together in the national interest, as opposed to remaining merely on the sidelines as an opposition party in Parliament. In a separate floor vote, the Green rank and file approved the slate of Green ministers already designated unanimously by the party's expanded executive committee, with only one vote against and one abstention. [6]

Composition

The cabinet consists of: [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

PortraitNameOfficeTook officeLeft officePartyFederal Home State

Chancellery

Sebastian Kurz (2018-02-28) (cropped).jpg Sebastian Kurz Chancellor of Austria [lower-alpha 1] 7 January 202011 October 2021 ÖVP Flag of Wien (state).svg  Vienna
Werner Kogler 2013.jpg Werner Kogler Vice-Chancellor of Austria
Minister for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport 		7 January 2020 Greens Flag of Styria (state).svg  Styria

Chancellery ministers

Karoline Edtstadler (cropped) (cropped).jpg Karoline Edtstadler Chancellery minister for the EU and Constitution7 January 2020 ÖVP Flag of Salzburg (state).svg  Salzburg
2020 Susanne Raab Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49351571192) (cropped) (cropped).jpg Susanne Raab Chancellery minister for Women and Integration 7 January 2020 ÖVP Flag of Upper Austria (state).svg  Upper Austria

Ministers

2020 Karl Nehammer Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49351366976) (cropped) (cropped).jpg Karl Nehammer Minister of the Interior 7 January 20206 December 2021 ÖVP Flag of Wien (state).svg  Vienna
Alexander Schallenberg (51029203647).jpg Alexander Schallenberg Minister for European and International Affairs 7 January 202011 October 2021 ÖVP (Born abroad)
2020 Alma Zadic Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49351570467) (cropped) (cropped).jpg Alma Zadić Minister of Justice 7 January 2020 Greens (Born abroad)
Rudolf Anschober BHO-0659.jpg Rudolf Anschober Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection 7 January 202013 April 2021 Greens Flag of Upper Austria (state).svg  Upper Austria
2021 Wolfgang Muckstein (51115921585) (cropped).jpg Wolfgang Mückstein 19 April 2021 Greens Flag of Wien (state).svg  Vienna
2020 Christine Aschbacher Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49350911953) (cropped) (cropped).jpg Christine Aschbacher Minister of Labour, Family and Youth 7 January 20209 January 2021 ÖVP Flag of Styria (state).svg  Styria
2021 Martin Kocher (50958944386) (cropped) (cropped).jpg Martin Kocher 11 January 2021 ÖVP Flag of Salzburg (state).svg  Salzburg
WahlNO2013 Klaudia Tanner 5209.jpg Klaudia Tanner Minister of Defence 7 January 2020 ÖVP Flag of Lower Austria (state).svg  Lower Austria
Heinz Fassmann, Austrian Minister of Education - 2018 (46171295532) (cropped).jpg Heinz Faßmann Minister of Education, Science, and Research 7 January 20206 December 2021 Independent
(ÖVP nominated)		(Born abroad)
2020 Leonore Gewessler Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49351367291) (cropped) (cropped).jpg Leonore Gewessler Minister of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology [lower-alpha 2] 7 January 2020 Greens Flag of Styria (state).svg  Styria
Elisabeth Kostinger (2014) (cropped).jpg Elisabeth Köstinger Minister of Agriculture, Regions, and Tourism 7 January 2020 ÖVP Flag of Carinthia (state).svg  Carinthia
2015 Margarete Schrambock (17126313616).jpg Margarete Schramböck Minister of Digital and Economic Affairs 7 January 2020 ÖVP Flag of Tirol (state).svg  Tyrol
2018 Gernot Blumel (39502202725) (cropped).jpg Gernot Blümel Minister of Finance 7 January 20206 December 2021 ÖVP Flag of Wien (state).svg  Vienna

State secretaries

Magnus Brunner.jpg Magnus Brunner State secretary in the Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology [lower-alpha 2] 7 January 20206 December 2021 ÖVP Flag of Vorarlberg (state).svg  Vorarlberg
Ulrike Lunacek April 2014 (cropped).jpg Ulrike Lunacek State secretary in the Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport 7 January 202020 May 2020 Greens Flag of Lower Austria (state).svg  Lower Austria
2015 Andrea Ecker, Andrea Mayer (16624734754) (cropped).jpg Andrea Mayer 20 May 2020 Independent
(Greens nominated)		Flag of Lower Austria (state).svg  Lower Austria

Actions

Under the People's Party, The Greens coalition plans, Austria will aim to become carbon neutral by 2040, a decade earlier than an EU-wide target, a pledge for all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030, as well as more spending on public transport. The coalition deal also includes banning the headscarf in schools for girls up to age 14, an extension of the garment ban that applies until age 10 approved by lawmakers earlier this year. The agreement also revives a plan for “precautionary detention” of potentially dangerous asylum seekers. [17]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Also responsible for Media agendas
  2. 1 2 The ministry also holds the agenda responsibilities of Infrastructure.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Austria</span> Political system of Austria

Politics in Austria reflects the dynamics of competition among multiple political parties, which led to the formation of a Conservative-Green coalition government for the first time in January 2020, following the snap elections of 29 September 2019, and the election of a former Green Party leader to the presidency in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austrian People's Party</span> Conservative political party in Austria

The Austrian People's Party is a Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative political party in Austria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Austrian legislative election</span>

Legislative elections were held in Austria on 28 September 2008 to elect the 24th National Council, the lower house of Austria's bicameral parliament. The snap election was called after Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) withdrew from the ruling grand coalition with the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) in July. Due to dissatisfaction with the governing parties, the opposition and minor parties were expected to make significant gains. Opinion polling indicated that up to seven parties could potentially win seats.

The political parties used numerous campaign posters in the 2008 Austrian legislative election.

This article covers the formation of the Faymann cabinet following the 2008 parliamentary election in Austria.

A legislative snap election for the National Council in Austria was held on 28 September 2008. The previous election was held on 1 October 2006. The election was caused by the withdrawal of Austrian People's Party leader Wilhelm Molterer from the governing grand coalition on 7 July 2008. Due to dissatisfaction with the grand coalition and the two main parties, it was widely expected to be a realigning election, with gains for the opposition and up to seven parties expected to be in the National Council after the election. The losses for the government parties resulted in strong gains for the far right, while neither the Liberal Forum nor the Citizens' Forum Austria gained as much as 2% of the vote, defying earlier expectations. The result of the election was seen as strong for the far-right and in support of Eurosceptics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum</span> Austrian political party

NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum is a liberal political party in Austria. It was founded as NEOS – The New Austria in 2012. In 2014, NEOS merged with Liberal Forum and adopted its current name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Kurz</span> Chancellor of Austria (2017–2019, 2020–2021)

Sebastian Kurz is an Austrian former politician who served twice as the chancellor of Austria, initially from December 2017 to May 2019 and then a second time from January 2020 to October 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Austrian legislative election</span>

Legislative elections were held in Austria on 15 October 2017 to elect the 26th National Council, the lower house of Austria's bicameral parliament. The snap election was called when the coalition government between the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) was dissolved in May by the latter party's new leader Sebastian Kurz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Austrian legislative election</span>

Legislative elections were held in Austria on 29 September 2019 to elect the 27th National Council, the lower house of Austria's bicameral parliament. The snap election was called in the wake of the Ibiza affair in May, which caused the resignation of Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and the collapse of the governing coalition of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). The government subsequently lost a motion of no confidence in parliament, before ÖVP Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was replaced by non-partisan Brigitte Bierlein on an interim basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Kurz government</span> Government of Austria from 2017 to 2019

The First Kurz government was the 30th Government of Austria in office from 18 December 2017 until 3 June 2019. It succeeded the Kern government formed after the 2017 legislative election. Sebastian Kurz, chairman of the centre-right Austrian People's Party, known by its initials in German as ÖVP, reached an agreement on a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), setting the stage for Kurz to become chancellor of Austria—the youngest head of government in Europe—for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Werner Kogler</span> Austrian politician

Werner Kogler is an Austrian politician of the Green Party who has been serving as Vice-Chancellor of Austria and minister for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport in the governments of chancellors Sebastian Kurz, Alexander Schallenberg, and Karl Nehammer since 7 January 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibiza affair</span> 2019 political scandal in Austria

The Ibiza affair, also known as Ibiza-gate, was a political scandal in Austria involving Heinz-Christian Strache, the former vice chancellor of Austria and leader of the Freedom Party (FPÖ), as well as Johann Gudenus, formerly a deputy leader of the Freedom Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bierlein government</span>

The Bierlein government was the 32nd Government of Austria following the collapse of the First Kurz government headed by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in the aftermath of the Ibiza affair. Sworn in on 3 June 2019, the Bierlein government was the first purely technocratic government in Austrian history, first interim government after a successful motion of no confidence in Parliament and first government headed by a female chancellor. As head of government, Brigitte Bierlein was assisted by Clemens Jabloner as vice-chancellor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Nehammer</span> Chancellor of Austria since 2021

Karl Nehammer is an Austrian politician who is the 32nd and current chancellor of Austria since 6 December 2021. A member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), he previously was Minister of the Interior from 2020 to 2021, general secretary of the ÖVP from 2018 to 2020, as well as a member of the National Council from 2017 to 2020. Nehammer assumed the chancellorship as the successor of Alexander Schallenberg, who resigned to return as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alma Zadić</span> Austrian lawyer and politician (born 1984)

Alma Zadić is a Bosnian-born Austrian lawyer and politician of the Green Party. She has been serving as Minister of Justice since 7 January 2020 in the governments of Chancellors Sebastian Kurz, Alexander Schallenberg and Karl Nehammer.

Legislative elections will be held in Austria by autumn 2024 to elect the 28th National Council, the lower house of Austria's bicameral parliament.

On 6 October 2021, Austrian anti-corruption prosecutors conducted a raid on the offices of Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the headquarters of the Austrian People's Party, and the Federal Ministry of Finance. Kurz, along with nine high-profile politicians and newspaper executives, has been accused of embezzlement and bribery. According to the prosecutors, public money has been misused to fund politically motivated and occasionally manipulated opinion polls, with the funding being conduited through advertisements in the Österreich newspaper on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Tyrolean state election</span>

The 2022 Tyrolean state election was held on 25 September 2022 to elect the members of the Landtag of Tyrol. Incumbent Governor Günther Platter of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) retired at the election; Anton Mattle was the party's lead candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Salzburg state election</span> Salzburg 2023 State Elections

The 2023 Salzburg state election took place in the Austrian state of Salzburg on 23 April 2023. Incumbent Governor of Salzburg, Wilfried Haslauer of the Austrian People's Party, ran for re-election. Following the election, a coalition between ÖVP and FPÖ was agreed on, the first of its kind in Salzburg. It was elected by the newly convened Landtag and sworn into office on 14 June 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "AVISO: Morgen, 13:00 Uhr: Ernennung und Angelobung von Bundeskanzler Alexander Schallenberg durch Bundespräsident Alexander Van der Bellen". ots.at (in German). 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "Austria backs green agenda with new coalition deal". 2 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Die Grünen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "Bundeskongress der Grünen stimmt mit 93 Prozent für Koalition mit ÖVP - derStandard.at". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Sarah Wheaton (4 January 2020). "Austrian Greens back coalition with Kurz's conservatives". Politico. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  6. ↑ aloh, ORF at/Agenturen (5 January 2020). "ÖVP – Grüne: Weg frei für neue Koalition – FPÖ murrt". news.ORF.at (in German). Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  7. ↑ Article Writer (31 December 2019). "Aschbacher soll Ministerin für Arbeit und Familie werden". Die Presse (in German). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  8. ↑ Article Writer (2 January 2020). "Zwei Bauernbündlerinnen in der nächsten Regierung: Elisabeth Köstinger und Klaudia Tanner". bauernzeitung.at (in German). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  9. ↑ Article Writer (2 January 2020). "Erste Details des Regierungsprogramms". ORF News (in German). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  10. ↑ Article Writer (2 January 2020). "Das ist das Regierungsteam". ORF News (in German). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  11. ↑ Article Writer. "Österreich: Grüne entscheidet über Koalitionspakt mit ÖVP - Ergebnis der Abstimmung überwältigt". Merkur.de (in German). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  12. ↑ Von OÖN-Innenpolitik. "Kurz und Kogler: Die Regierung mit dem größten Frauenanteil". nachrichten.at (in German). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  13. ↑ Politik/Inland (30 December 2019). "Neue Regierung: Kanzler kümmert sich künftig selbst um Medienthemen". kurier.at (in German). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "Das sind die Sprecher der neuen ÖVP-Minister". vienna.at (in German). 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Bundesministerinnen und Bundesminister, Staatssekretärin und Staatssekretär". bundeskanzleramt.gv.at (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  16. ↑ "Erster türkis-grüner Ministerrat: "Es wird etwas geschehen"". diepresse.com (in German). 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  17. ↑ Rankin, Jennifer (2 January 2020). " "Austria's new coalition agrees to extend school headscarf ban". The Guardian.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.