Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen symbolically made his first public appointment the day after he was sworn in. The head of state invited high school students to the “Banquet of the Future” on Friday in the President’s Office. Over lunch in the magnificent Maria Theresa Hall, the President spoke to them about their plans for the future and about his day-to-day work. Pizza was served.
“It’s like a small state banquet, it’s very similar,” said Van der Bellen when he was greeted at the festively laid table. Only the menu is a bit more detailed. Together with his wife Doris Schmidauer, he welcomed 16 fourth-year students from the Sonntagberg secondary school in Amstetten.
The future was an important theme in his swearing-in speech. Now he wants to know what future plans the young people have, said the president.
Questions about other subjects were not welcome
“I had a very positive impression, also of the school. Not only is there drilling as in my time, but creativity is encouraged,” Van der Bellen told the APA after lunch, which was not open to the media. Questions about other topics were not welcome. He encouraged the students to be multilingual if they weren’t already, and to consider going abroad.
“No confectioners,” was the satisfied conclusion of the president. The general impression of the young people about their future is “very optimistic and I think it is important that young people believe in the future”, says Van der Bellen.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
