Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Sunday (10) that he has a “great challenge” ahead of him, after Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigned on Saturday (9) and named him his successor as head of government.
Kurz, who at 35 is one of Europe’s youngest leaders, announced Saturday night that he would step down as chancellor after opening an investigation against him.
Justifying that he “would give up his job to avoid chaos”, the conservative leader, once dubbed a “prodigy” and who has led two different executives in the last four years, proposed his foreign minister to replace him.
Schallenberg, 52, met Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen today after speaking with Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler of the Greens.
In comments made before the meeting with the president, the minister highlighted that “the task and the future” that lie ahead represent a “great challenge” that “is not easy for any of us”.
“But I think we’re showing an incredible degree of responsibility in this country,” he told reporters.
Kogler, who was meeting with Van der Bellen, told reporters that he had a “good” meeting with Schallenberg, who gave him “confidence”.
“Above all, I am pleased with the possibility of opening a new chapter in the work of the coalition government,” said the 59-year-old Greens leader.
On Saturday night, Kogler indicated that his party would support Schallenberg to maintain the governing coalition formed by conservatives and environmentalists.
Kurz is suspected of having used government funds to secure favorable media treatment.
According to the Public Ministry, between 2016 and 2018 praiseworthy articles and research favorable to Kurz were published in exchange for the purchase of advertising space by the Ministry of Finance, then in the hands of conservatives.
On Wednesday, the MP announced that Kurz and nine other suspects, as well as three organizations, are being investigated for various crimes related to the case, following a series of search and seizure operations, in particular at the ÖVP headquarters.
Kurz denied any wrongdoing and reiterated on Saturday that the charges against him were “false”, that he would try to clarify the matter and that he will continue to lead his party.
For analyst Thomas Hofer, for now Kurz will continue to be “the most influential person” in his party “on a national level”.
“From Kurz’s point of view, Schallenberg is a backup substitute (…) Kurz acted in this way to remain in charge of the party and control the ruling team,” Hofer told AFP.
The leader of the Social Democrats, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, in opposition, stressed that Kurz will act as a “chancellor in the shadows”.
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