New Austria chancellor sworn in
Published: 03:12 PM,Dec 06,2021 | EDITED : 07:12 PM,Dec 06,2021
VIENNA: Austria's former Interior Minister Karl Nehammer was sworn in as the country's third chancellor in as many months Monday, after the fallout from a corruption scandal shook his ruling People's Party. President Alexander Van der Bellen formally swore Nehammer in at a ceremony at Vienna's Hofburg Palace just after 1 pm local time.
The previous Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg offered his resignation Thursday, hours after his predecessor and close ally Sebastian Kurz announced he was resigning as head of the conservative People's Party (OeVP) following a corruption scandal.
On Friday the party nominated Nehammer, 49, to take over as party head and chancellor.
Nehammer's first act has been to send Schallenberg back to his previous post as foreign minister and appoint new finance, interior and education ministers.
Speaking to reporters after Monday's ceremony, Nehammer acknowledged there was an 'unbelievable' amount to do to steer the country out of the partial coronavirus lockdown imposed on November 22 in response to rising case numbers.
The lockdown is due to end this weekend and Nehammer said he would consult with experts and the opposition in the coming days on the next steps.
Austria is also set to make coronavirus vaccination compulsory. According to leaks of the draft law for the measure, those refusing vaccination will be punished with a $680 fine which could be re-imposed every three months. The measures have prompted much opposition, in particular from the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), and a series of large demonstrations. - AFP
The previous Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg offered his resignation Thursday, hours after his predecessor and close ally Sebastian Kurz announced he was resigning as head of the conservative People's Party (OeVP) following a corruption scandal.
On Friday the party nominated Nehammer, 49, to take over as party head and chancellor.
Nehammer's first act has been to send Schallenberg back to his previous post as foreign minister and appoint new finance, interior and education ministers.
Speaking to reporters after Monday's ceremony, Nehammer acknowledged there was an 'unbelievable' amount to do to steer the country out of the partial coronavirus lockdown imposed on November 22 in response to rising case numbers.
The lockdown is due to end this weekend and Nehammer said he would consult with experts and the opposition in the coming days on the next steps.
Austria is also set to make coronavirus vaccination compulsory. According to leaks of the draft law for the measure, those refusing vaccination will be punished with a $680 fine which could be re-imposed every three months. The measures have prompted much opposition, in particular from the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), and a series of large demonstrations. - AFP