The First List of Ministers is Announced: Who Gets Which Office in the Zuckerl Coalition?
The Zuckerl Coalition: An Overview
The Zuckerl Coalition is a newly formed coalition government in Austria. It is made up of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), and the Greens – The Green Alternative.
The coalition was formed after the 2019 Austrian legislative election, in which the SPÖ won the most seats in the National Council, but fell short of a majority. The ÖVP and the Greens agreed to form a coalition with the SPÖ, giving the coalition a majority of seats in the National Council.
The First List of Ministers
On January 1, 2020, the first list of ministers in the Zuckerl Coalition was announced. The list includes:
- Chancellor: Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP)
- Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Finance: Werner Kogler (Greens)
- Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection: Werner Fasslabend (ÖVP)
- Minister for European and International Affairs: Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP)
- Minister for the Interior: Karl Nehammer (ÖVP)
- Minister for Justice: Alma Zadic (Greens)
- Minister for Defence: Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP)
- Minister for Education, Science and Research: Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP)
- Minister for Agriculture, Regions and Tourism: Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP)
- Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology: Leonore Gewessler (Greens)
- Minister for Labour, Family and Youth: Christine Aschbacher (ÖVP)
- Minister for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport: Ulrike Lunacek (Greens)
Analysis
The list of ministers in the Zuckerl Coalition reflects the balance of power between the three parties. The ÖVP has the most ministers, followed by the Greens and the SPÖ.
The key ministries, such as the ministries for finance, foreign affairs, and the interior, are held by the ÖVP. The Greens have been given control of the ministries for climate action, the environment, and energy, as well as the ministry for justice.
The SPÖ has been given the ministries for social affairs, health, care, and consumer protection, as well as the ministry for labour, family, and youth.
