Fixed allocation of portfolios

Styrian state government introduces itself

FPÖ leader Mario Kunasek will be sworn in as the new provincial governor on Thursday.

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

It went quickly, but anything but without complications: a good three weeks after the elections in Styria, the blue-black coalition and its government program were presented on Tuesday. There were a few surprises in the details, for example two ÖVP government ministers were given additional powers.

What had long been certain: FPÖ election winner Mario Kunasek will succeed Christopher Drexler (ÖVP) as provincial governor. He leads a team of eight in the government - four blue and four black members. The exact distribution of portfolios was disputed until the very end, but the main issue was the personnel. On Monday, the sparks flew one last time.

Internal coup against the governor
After days of trench warfare within the ÖVP and an internal party coup against him, Drexler threw in the towel in the afternoon. Vote losses in the almost double-digit range were too much for many Styrian blacks, especially in the business and farmers' associations as well as in the districts, and they backed Manuela Khom as deputy governor and party leader - at least temporarily, as it was said.

The new white-green leadership duo Kunasek and Khom

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

At the presentation, Kunasek spoke of "labor-intensive weeks and negotiations on an equal footing"; the personnel disputes were not mentioned at all. The program was "viable and promising for the future". Khom agreed with this assessment.

Eibinger-Miedl gets finances, Kornhäusl culture
She will be joined in the government by Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Karlheinz Kornhäusl and Simone Schmiedtbauer, who have already served as black state councillors. Eibinger-Miedl will take over finance in addition to her previous area of economics, Kornhäusl will remain responsible for health and care and will be given a new role in culture, while Schmiedtbauer will remain state councillor for agriculture.

The future Styrian state government (from left): Kornhäusl, Holzer, Eibinger-Miedl, Kunasek, Khom, Hermann, Schmiedtbauer, Amesbauer

(Bild: Barbara Winkler)

In the Blue Party, the posts were distributed more quickly: In addition to Kunasek, the previous state party secretary Stefan Hermann, member of the National Council Hannes Amesbauer and Claudia Holzer, who most recently worked as an authorized signatory at Graz-Köflacher Bahn, are moving into the government. The responsibilities in the blue half of the government had also been divided up for some time: Hermann is responsible for education, youth, municipalities and regional development, Amesbauer for social affairs, Holzer for infrastructure. Party leader Kunasek is responsible for tourism, personnel and sport.

Islam, begging, ORF fee, lead hospital
As far as is known so far, the government program bears a clear blue signature. A documentation office for political Islam and a staff unit for security in asylum homes are to be set up, and beggars will be severely restricted in future. The corona crisis is to be reopened with a new fund, and the end of the "Styrian surcharge" on the ORF fee has also been sealed. The sticking point was the planned flagship hospital in Stainach-Pürgg, one of the major upsets of the election campaign, the future of which the blue and black parties were unable to agree on for a long time. An agreement was reached to halt the project, with the focus on expanding the Rottenmann site and maintaining Schladming and Bad Aussee.

A bone of contention in the election campaign and beyond: the planned lead hospital in the Liezen district

(Bild: ARGE Maurer Franz Sue)

Welfare fraud, housing costs, public and private transport
In detail, the blue-black coalition has resolved to combat social fraud across the country with a new task force, as Kunasek explained. In the area of housing, the aim is to "identify and ideally abolish" the biggest cost drivers in order to give young people in particular the opportunity to acquire property. With regard to transport, for which newcomer Holzer is responsible, the future governor echoed his election campaign slogans: "Yes, we are committed to private transport, we must put an end to 'car driver bashing'." The aim is to push ahead with the expansion of provincial roads and public transport.

"Challenges" in employment and the economy
Khom spoke about the area of tension between work and the economy, where there are "quite a few challenges". There is a desire to look beyond one's own province and expand the southern axis, and work is also underway on a plan to reduce bureaucracy. In terms of labor market policy, the aim is to implement a paradigm shift and "no longer manage the unemployed, but support them in getting back to work".

"The whole of Austria is looking at Styria"
The whole of Austria is looking to Styria these days, said Kunasek, which is why they want to get to work as soon as possible. The first government meeting is to take place immediately after the swearing-in ceremony with the Federal President on Thursday.