Government Program on the Way: It Could Be Ready by Thursday

The coalition negotiations of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS are apparently nearing completion. The government program is expected to be presented tomorrow, Thursday, according to negotiator circles on Wednesday. Until the last moment, the negotiators were still working on final agreements. The personnel appointments for the ministries will only take place in the days following the program presentation. All three parties still need to involve their committees in the nomination of ministers.

Government program on Thursday, swearing-in on Monday?

An invitation to the program presentation was still expected for Wednesday. The upcoming Monday is still considered a possible swearing-in date - provided that the NEOS members approve a coalition agreement at their meeting on Sunday. The presidential office stated that no request for a specific swearing-in date has been received yet, but they are ready. The parties are likely aiming for Monday as the swearing-in date to avoid an inauguration on Shrove Tuesday due to its symbolism.

On Wednesday, the parties were tight-lipped about negotiation details. Initial details had previously leaked: According to media reports, ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS have agreed on a reform of the directive leadership in the judiciary. In prominent cases, for example, an independent body is to make the final decision. On Wednesday, the "Standard" also reported on initial details in the education sector, such as the implementation of a mobile phone ban in schools and the promotion of all-day schools.

Distribution of ministries between ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS clarified

The question of the distribution of ministries between the parties has been clarified - with six ministries each for ÖVP and SPÖ and two for NEOS. The number of state secretaries is expected to be unusually high at seven. The appointment of government positions within the parties is still partially open. The clearest picture so far is with the ÖVP, where the current ministers for the Interior, Defense, and Agriculture are expected to remain in office.

In the SPÖ, there is apparently still a struggle over the appointment of the important ministries for finance, infrastructure, and justice. According to a recent report by the "Kronen Zeitung," the SPÖ has settled on the Vienna city councilor Peter Hanke for the finance ministry. However, in a conversation with the APA on Wednesday, Hanke pointed out that no decisions have been made yet. It would be premature to speculate here. He himself feels very comfortable in Vienna, he emphasized. Previously, the former ORF chief Alexander Wrabetz and the Salzburg National Council member Michaela Schmidt were also mentioned as potential candidates.

Justice, Women, Health

For the justice department, party leader Andreas Babler is likely to favor the former state secretary for integration, Muna Duzdar, but she is not considered a certainty and could also hold a state secretariat. It seems certain that SPÖ women's leader Eva Maria Holzleitner will take over the women's ministry and probably also the science agendas. ÖGB Vice President Korinna Schumann is likely to get the social and health ministry and will also receive the labor agendas, with a state secretary likely to be appointed alongside her.

Babler will hold the vice chancellorship in the government, but it is still open which functions he will take on in addition. Recently, there was a rumor that he might not consider culture, sports, and media as expected, but rather lead the powerful but also time-consuming infrastructure department. As an alternative to Babler, the ÖBB manager Silvia Angelo, who comes from the ÖGB, was also recently considered - however, she emphasized in a statement sent to the APA that she is not available for a ministerial position. On Friday, the SPÖ board is expected to approve the personnel package of the Social Democrats.

Strolz commented

There was news on Wednesday with the NEOS: After speculation about a return of former NEOS leader Matthias Strolz, who publicly expressed his interest in the position of education minister, he withdrew again on Wednesday. The media had turned his publicly expressed interest into a "race," "which I hereby end," the Vorarlberger explained on Facebook. At the same time, he referred to the Vienna education councilor Christoph Wiederkehr, who is considered a possible pink education minister candidate. He will "now find a successor solution for Vienna," said Strolz. This makes it clear "that he is the preference of the board." The Vienna NEOS did not confirm Strolz's statements that Wiederkehr is already looking for a successor in Vienna for his position.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.