Some competition

Will a woman become Carinthia’s chief prosecutor for the first time?

The head of the public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt has recently been advertised. And for the first time, a woman has a good chance of taking over this position. But the final decision lies with Federal President Alexander van der Bellen.

Tension at the public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt: everyone is puzzling over who will succeed the current head of the office. Josef Haißl is retiring after eight years as head - in contrast to well-known predecessors such as Dietmar Pacheiner or Gottfried Kranz, he had filled the office quite quietly and inconspicuously. But the public prosecutor's office is a monocratic authority - the boss has the last word.

So who will move up?
"The deadline for applications expired on Friday night, but in theory, applications can still be submitted," says Erich Leitner from the Senior Public Prosecutor's Office in Graz, where a personnel committee is ranking the candidates. How many there will be is still open. Tina Frimmel-Hesse is the first woman to be considered a favorite: she is already multifunctional - deputy head, press spokeswoman and juvenile prosecutor and is well connected in all roles.

The rumor mill wants to know about a prominent criminal judge as an opponent, but he waves it off - as management positions at the Klagenfurt regional court will also become vacant in 2025, judges are more likely to apply there. Surprise candidates for Klagenfurt are more likely to come from the ranks of the Vienna corruption prosecutor's office, where some already have experience in Carinthia - such as Bernhard Weratschnig

Incidentally, the final decision is made by high politics: Justice Minister Alma Zadic chooses, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen signs.