The far-right Liberals won most of the votes in the September election, but the new ruling coalition continues to oppose it.
The conservative Christian stocker was sworn in as Austrian prime minister by the head of the three-party coalition government, ending a five-month political impasse following the far-right election victory.
The oath on Monday comes days after Stocker said a “common program” was agreed by the Austrian People’s Party (OVP), the Social Democrats on the centre left, and the liberal neo.
The creation of the Union government came after separate bids by the same three political parties and the far-right Liberal Party, which won the most votes in the September 29 parliamentary election, ended without agreement.
The new administration faces key challenges, including rising unemployment, a recession and a tense budget. The coalition agreement includes a plan for stricter asylum rules for the 9 million European Union.
“You can say, “Good things will come to those who are waiting.” That is my hope, in any case, considering the many days it took to form this government,” said President Alexander van der Belen, at a swearing ceremony at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, referring to the country’s longest government formation process since World War II.
“This process certainly took a long time. It’s not yet decided whether it will work or not now, but we are positive and optimistic. It depends on us all,” he added.
Stocker, 64, has not campaigned for positions during the election and has taken on the role of prime minister despite lack of experience in the central government.
Before becoming a councillor in 2019, he was the vice mayor of Wiener Neustadt, his hometown, a city near Vienna.
Social Democrat leader Andreas Beibble is the vice-prime minister, and Neos Head Biede Maine Lisinger has taken over as Foreign Minister and replaced Alexander Shallenberg, who served as interim prime minister after the resignation of government prime minister Karl Nehammer.
Shallenberg is not part of the new cabinet.
Key conservative ministers such as Home Affairs Minister Gerhard Kerner and Defense Minister Claudia Tanner held their positions. However, the Treasury Department moved from the OVP to the Social Democrats, with Marx Marterbauer leading it to be appointed.
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