Second Kurz government

The Second Kurz government is the first government in Austrian history in which women constitute the majority; it is also the youngest on average. Sebastian Kurz reclaimed the distinction of being the youngest head of government in Europe, aged 33. The youthfulness of the government also mirrors a younger electorate, Austria having lowered the voting age to 16, the lowest in Europe.

The Second Kurz government includes one cabinet member who is not a native Austrian, but came to the country as a refugee when she was a child, an element of personal biography she shares with President Alexander Van der Bellen.

File:2020 Angelobung der Bundesregierung (49345516191).jpg

File:Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49351573722).jpg

Sebastian Kurz, chairman of the People's Party, reached an agreement on a coalition with the centre-left Greens at the end of 2019, putting him on track to become chancellor of Austria for the second time, with Werner Kogler, leader of The Greens, as vice-chancellor. This marked a breakthrough for The Greens as it would be represented in the executive branch of government at the national level for the first time. The Greens had previously unsuccessfully participated in coalition talks at the national level and served as coalition partners in several state governments.

The novel form of the political partnership paved the way for the ÖVP to maintain its conservative line on immigration, but also put Austria on the forefront of the fight against climate change, with a Green minister in charge of that portfolio and an action plan towards carbon neutrality on a pace faster than the rest of the EU.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50969001|title=Austria backs green agenda with new coalition deal|date=2020-01-02|access-date=2020-01-05|language=en-GB}} Kurz and Kogler differ not only in age, but also in style and manner of speech. Notwithstanding the odd-couple nature of the match, they have developed a good working relationship. Unlike Kurz, Kogler had to obtain the approval of his rank and file to enter the coalition government on the terms spelled out in the formal coalition agreement that the two party leaders had finalised and announced on New Year's Day. This was required by the charter of The Greens, which reflects its founders' commitment to grassroots democracy, while the ÖVP is more hierarchical and dominated by its constituent organisations in the corporatist tradition.

On 4 January 2020, more than 93 percent of the delegates at a special Green Congress convened in Salzburg backed the deal hammered out by the negotiating teams of the two parties and their leaders in more than two months of bargaining that covered the full spectrum of public policies, rather than just environmental issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/diegruenen/photos/a.64644713033/10156859783313034/?type=3|title=Die Grünen|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000112933308/gruener-bundeskongress-stimmt-mit-93-prozent-fuer-koalition-mit-oevp|title=Bundeskongress der Grünen stimmt mit 93 Prozent für Koalition mit ÖVP - derStandard.at|website=DER STANDARD|language=de-AT|access-date=2020-01-05}}{{cite web |author1= Sarah Wheaton |title=Austrian Greens back coalition with Kurz's conservatives|url= https://www.politico.eu/article/austrian-greens-back-coalition-with-kurzs-conservatives/ |website=Politico |date=4 January 2020|access-date=4 January 2020}} In the floor debate, misgivings were expressed about too many concessions having been made in reaching a deal on a joint government programme that both parties and their respective supporters in the electorate can agree on. Some delegates expressed dissent in the areas of civil liberties and treatment of asylum seekers and migrants. They deplored the Greens' yielding on core humanitarian principles.

In recognition of internal party dissension, Kogler stressed on many occasions the need to practice political realism. Assuming responsibility for governing the country with the ÖVP offered the Greens an opportunity to participate directly in the shaping of the future course of public policy for the very first time. "When if not now?" Kogler proclaimed, under a banner highlighting the spirit and motto of the congress: "Facing the future with boldness". He expressed hope to set an example for the rest of Europe with green and conservative parties working together in the national interest, as opposed to remaining merely on the sidelines as an opposition party in Parliament. In a separate floor vote, the Green rank and file approved the slate of Green ministers already designated unanimously by the party's expanded executive committee, with only one vote against and one abstention.{{Cite web|url=https://orf.at/stories/3149810/|title=ÖVP – Grüne: Weg frei für neue Koalition – FPÖ murrt|last=aloh|first=ORF at/Agenturen|date=2020-01-05|website=news.ORF.at|language=de|access-date=2020-01-05}}

The cabinet consists of:{{cite web |author1=Article Writer |title= Aschbacher soll Ministerin für Arbeit und Familie werden |url= https://www.diepresse.com/5745514/aschbacher-soll-ministerin-fur-arbeit-und-familie-werden |website=Die Presse |date= 31 December 2019 |language = de |access-date=4 January 2020}}{{cite web |author1=Article Writer |title= Zwei Bauernbündlerinnen in der nächsten Regierung: Elisabeth Köstinger und Klaudia Tanner |url= https://bauernzeitung.at/zwei-bauernbuendlerinnen-in-der-naechsten-regierung-elisabeth-koestinger-und-klaudia-tanner/ |website= bauernzeitung.at |date= 2 January 2020 |language = de |access-date=4 January 2020}}{{cite web |author1=Article Writer |title= Erste Details des Regierungsprogramms |url= https://orf.at/stories/3149386/ |website=ORF News |date= 2 January 2020 |language = de |access-date=4 January 2020}}{{cite web |author1=Article Writer |title=Das ist das Regierungsteam |url=https://orf.at/stories/3149514/|website=ORF News |date=2 January 2020 | language= de |access-date=4 January 2020}}{{cite web |author1= Article Writer |title=Österreich: Grüne entscheidet über Koalitionspakt mit ÖVP - Ergebnis der Abstimmung überwältigt |url=https://www.merkur.de/politik/oesterreich-regierung-sebastian-kurz-oevp-gruene-kogler-koalition-parteigremien-habeck-zr-13413927.amp.html |website=Merkur.de |language = de |access-date=4 January 2020}}{{cite web |author1= Von OÖN-Innenpolitik |title=Kurz und Kogler: Die Regierung mit dem größten Frauenanteil |url= https://www.nachrichten.at/politik/innenpolitik/kurz-und-kogler-die-regierung-mit-dem-groessten-frauenanteil;art385,3207355 |website= nachrichten.at |language = de |access-date=4 January 2020}}{{cite web |author1=Politik/Inland|title=Neue Regierung: Kanzler kümmert sich künftig selbst um Medienthemen |url= https://kurier.at/politik/inland/neue-regierung-kanzler-kuemmert-sich-kuenftig-selbst-um-medienthemen/400715001 |website=kurier.at |date=30 December 2019 |language = de | access-date=4 January 2020}}{{cite web |title= Das sind die Sprecher der neuen ÖVP-Minister |url= https://www.vienna.at/das-sind-die-sprecher-der-neuen-oevp-minister/6477964/amp |website= vienna.at |date= 7 January 2020 |language = de | access-date=7 January 2020}}{{cite web |title= Bundesministerinnen und Bundesminister, Staatssekretärin und Staatssekretär |url= https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/bundeskanzleramt/die-bundesregierung/bundesministerinnen-und-bundesminister.html |website= bundeskanzleramt.gv.at |language = de | access-date=7 January 2020}}{{cite web |title= Erster türkis-grüner Ministerrat: "Es wird etwas geschehen" |url= https://www.diepresse.com/5748663/erster-turkis-gruner-ministerrat-es-wird-etwas-geschehen |website= diepresse.com |date= 8 January 2020 |language = de | access-date=8 January 2020}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:#555; text-align:center; "

|-

! class="unsortable" style="width:100px;"| Portrait

! Name

! Office

! Took office

! Left office

! colspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:5px;" |Party

!Federal Home State

|-

! colspan="9" |

|-

| 100px

| Sebastian Kurz

| Chancellor of Austria{{efn|name=fn1|Also responsible for Media agendas}}

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{end date|2021|10|11|df=y}}

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Vienna|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Werner Kogler

| Vice-Chancellor of Austria
Minister for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens – The Green Alternative}}" |

| Greens

|{{flag|Styria|state}}

|-

! colspan="9" |

|-

| 100px

| Karoline Edtstadler

| Chancellery minister for the EU and Constitution

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Salzburg|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Susanne Raab

| Chancellery minister for Women and Integration

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Upper Austria|state}}

|-

! colspan="9" |

|-

| 100px

| Karl Nehammer

| Minister of the Interior

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{end date|2021|12|06|df=y}}

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Vienna|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Alexander Schallenberg

| Minister for European and International Affairs

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{end date|2021|10|11|df=y}}

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|(Born abroad)

|-

| 100px

| Alma Zadić

| Minister of Justice

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens – The Green Alternative}}" |

| Greens

|(Born abroad)

|-

| 100px

| Rudolf Anschober

| rowspan="2" |Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{end date|2021|04|13|df=y}}

| style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens – The Green Alternative}}" |

| Greens

|{{flag|Upper Austria|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Wolfgang Mückstein

| {{start date|2021|04|19|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens – The Green Alternative}}" |

| Greens

|{{flag|Vienna|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Christine Aschbacher

| rowspan="2" |Minister of Labour, Family and Youth

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{end date|2021|01|09|df=y}}

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Styria|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Martin Kocher

| {{start date|2021|01|11|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Salzburg|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Klaudia Tanner

| Minister of Defence

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Lower Austria|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Heinz Faßmann

| Minister of Education, Science, and Research

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{end date|2021|12|06|df=y}}

| style="background-color: #b9eaf1" |

| Independent
{{small|(ÖVP nominated)}}

|(Born abroad)

|-

| 100px

| Leonore Gewessler

| Minister of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology{{efn|name=fn2|The ministry also holds the agenda responsibilities of Infrastructure.}}

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens – The Green Alternative}}" |

| Greens

|{{flag|Styria|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Elisabeth Köstinger

| Minister of Agriculture, Regions, and Tourism

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Carinthia|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Margarete Schramböck

| Minister of Digital and Economic Affairs

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Tyrol|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Gernot Blümel

| Minister of Finance

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{end date|2021|12|06|df=y}}

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Vienna|state}}

|-

! colspan="9" |

|-

| 100px

| Magnus Brunner

| State secretary in the Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology{{efn|name=fn2}}

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{end date|2021|12|06|df=y}}

| style="background-color: {{party color|Austrian People's Party (2017)}}" |

| ÖVP

|{{flag|Vorarlberg|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Ulrike Lunacek

| rowspan="2" |State secretary in the Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport

| {{start date|2020|01|07|df=y}}

| {{start date|2020|05|20|df=y}}

| style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens – The Green Alternative}}" |

| Greens

|{{flag|Lower Austria|state}}

|-

| 100px

| Andrea Mayer

| {{start date|2020|05|20|df=y}}

|

| style="background-color: #aadd88" |

| Independent
{{small|(Greens nominated)}}

|{{flag|Lower Austria|state}}

|-

! colspan="9" |

|}

Under the People's Party, The Greens coalition plans, Austria will aim to become carbon neutral by 2040, a decade earlier than an EU-wide target, a pledge for all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030, as well as more spending on public transport. The coalition deal also includes banning the headscarf in schools for girls up to age 14, an extension of the garment ban that applies until age 10 approved by lawmakers earlier this year. The agreement also revives a plan for “precautionary detention” of potentially dangerous asylum seekers.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/02/austrias-new-coalition-agrees-to-extend-school-headscarf-ban"|title=Austria's new coalition agrees to extend school headscarf ban|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Jennifer|last=Rankin|date=2 January 2020}}

• Politics of Austria

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Kurz II

Category:2020s in Austria

Government 2