Alexander Schallenberg ruled Austria as Chancellor for less than two months. Now there are still a few days, or rather a few weeks, before the diplomat’s political career comes to an end. The 55-year-old has already announced that he will no longer be available as a minister in a government led by Herbert Kickl.
The political career of the interim chancellor, now nominated by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, is closely intertwined with the president. Some say emphatically: the two get along well simply because they are Tschick brothers. That means: both the president and the new and former chancellor are seriously addicted to nicotine. And behind the wallpapered door in the Hofburg, all smoking bans in public buildings are suspended if the president has a craving for cigarettes. And if he also has a conversation partner who shares this vice, then we get along exceptionally well…
Schallenberg’s political career started after Ibiza in 2019 – when he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Europe in the cabinet of Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein, assembled by Van der Bellen. Schallenberg was the only one from this government to ‘survive’ and was subsequently taken over as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the second Kurz government.
When Sebastian Kurz had to resign as chancellor in the middle of the renewed Corona crisis, Schallenberg took over. In a ‘Krone’ double interview with Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler in November 2021, he issued rather undiplomatic warnings to those who refused vaccinations, which were sometimes interpreted as threats. The decision to require vaccinations, which was ultimately never implemented, also came during his short term in office.
In any case, Schallenberg’s first term at the Chancellery will not go down in history as glamorous. Now he has a second chance.
Source: Krone
I am George Kunkel, an author working for Today Times Live. I specialize in opinion pieces and cover stories that are both informative and thought-provoking – helping to shape public discourse on key issues. My work is regularly featured across the network’s many platforms, including print media and social media.
