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Austria far right: Freedom Party wins key posts in new government | Austria far right: Freedom Party wins key posts in new government |
(35 minutes later) | |
The far-right Freedom Party has secured the key posts of foreign, interior and defence in Austria's new coalition government for its nominees. | The far-right Freedom Party has secured the key posts of foreign, interior and defence in Austria's new coalition government for its nominees. |
Governing with the conservative People's Party, the move makes Austria the only country in Western Europe to have a far-right party in power. | Governing with the conservative People's Party, the move makes Austria the only country in Western Europe to have a far-right party in power. |
Austria's president approved the new coalition on Saturday, two months after inconclusive elections. | Austria's president approved the new coalition on Saturday, two months after inconclusive elections. |
People's Party leader Sebastian Kurz, 31, will be Austria's new chancellor. | People's Party leader Sebastian Kurz, 31, will be Austria's new chancellor. |
He will become the world's youngest head of government. | He will become the world's youngest head of government. |
Introducing the new government, and the 180-page document setting out its agenda, Mr Kurz said the two parties had agreed "on a clear pro-European outlook". | Introducing the new government, and the 180-page document setting out its agenda, Mr Kurz said the two parties had agreed "on a clear pro-European outlook". |
Although it is the junior coalition partner, the anti-immigration Freedom Party has secured several key posts in the new cabinet. | Although it is the junior coalition partner, the anti-immigration Freedom Party has secured several key posts in the new cabinet. |
Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache will be vice-chancellor. His party colleagues will run the interior, defence and health and social security ministries. | Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache will be vice-chancellor. His party colleagues will run the interior, defence and health and social security ministries. |
The new foreign minister will be Middle East expert and writer Karin Kneissl, who is not a Freedom Party member but was nominated by the party. | The new foreign minister will be Middle East expert and writer Karin Kneissl, who is not a Freedom Party member but was nominated by the party. |
Mr Kurz's People Party won 32% of the vote in October's elections, securing the largest number of seats (62) in the 183-seat national council. | Mr Kurz's People Party won 32% of the vote in October's elections, securing the largest number of seats (62) in the 183-seat national council. |
The Freedom Party came third, securing 26% of the vote and 51 seats. | The Freedom Party came third, securing 26% of the vote and 51 seats. |
At the request of Austria's president, the posts of justice minister and interior minister would not be held by the same party, Mr Kurz said. | At the request of Austria's president, the posts of justice minister and interior minister would not be held by the same party, Mr Kurz said. |
The chancellor-designate was quick to retweet congratulations from his fellow youthful conservative prime minister, Ireland's Leo Varadkar. | The chancellor-designate was quick to retweet congratulations from his fellow youthful conservative prime minister, Ireland's Leo Varadkar. |
Key posts in right-wing hands | |
Analysis by Bethany Bell, BBC News, Vienna | |
Unlike most of Europe's populist parties, the Freedom Party, a major player in Austria for years, has managed to translate its success at the ballot box into real political power. | Unlike most of Europe's populist parties, the Freedom Party, a major player in Austria for years, has managed to translate its success at the ballot box into real political power. |
That's reflected in the key posts that it has secured in this government: the interior, defence and foreign ministries. | That's reflected in the key posts that it has secured in this government: the interior, defence and foreign ministries. |
The opposition has expressed concern that the police and the security apparatus are now all firmly in the hands of the Freedom Party. | The opposition has expressed concern that the police and the security apparatus are now all firmly in the hands of the Freedom Party. |
In recent years, the party has toned down some of its more extreme rhetoric. But many analysts believe that, in or out of government, it has helped set a right-wing agenda, not just in Austria - but in other countries across Europe as well. | In recent years, the party has toned down some of its more extreme rhetoric. But many analysts believe that, in or out of government, it has helped set a right-wing agenda, not just in Austria - but in other countries across Europe as well. |
When the far-right Freedom Party last entered a coalition in Austria in 2000, its fellow EU member states froze bilateral diplomatic relations in response. | When the far-right Freedom Party last entered a coalition in Austria in 2000, its fellow EU member states froze bilateral diplomatic relations in response. |
They were lifted months later, and such measures are unlikely to happen again, as resurgent right-wing populist groups have been promoting anti-immigration and Eurosceptic agendas across much of the EU. | They were lifted months later, and such measures are unlikely to happen again, as resurgent right-wing populist groups have been promoting anti-immigration and Eurosceptic agendas across much of the EU. |
But unlike the Freedom Party, those other parties have struggled to convert electoral success into real power: | But unlike the Freedom Party, those other parties have struggled to convert electoral success into real power: |
Who's who in the new government? | Who's who in the new government? |
Chancellor: Sebastian Kurz, People's Party. The 31-year-old was foreign minister in the outgoing Austrian government. | Chancellor: Sebastian Kurz, People's Party. The 31-year-old was foreign minister in the outgoing Austrian government. |
Interior minister: Herbert Kickl, Freedom Party. The party's general secretary and campaign director, 49, was a speechwriter for the late party leader Jörg Haider and is a close confidant of the current leader, Hans-Christian Strache. | Interior minister: Herbert Kickl, Freedom Party. The party's general secretary and campaign director, 49, was a speechwriter for the late party leader Jörg Haider and is a close confidant of the current leader, Hans-Christian Strache. |
Foreign minister: Karin Kneissl, nominated by the Freedom Party but not a member. The former foreign ministry employee and Middle East expert, 52, speaks eight languages and is not afraid of controversy, according to Austrian media. | Foreign minister: Karin Kneissl, nominated by the Freedom Party but not a member. The former foreign ministry employee and Middle East expert, 52, speaks eight languages and is not afraid of controversy, according to Austrian media. |