The national holiday brings the first joint appearance of Chancellor Schallenberg and Vice Chancellor Kogler, a new crisis security law and the opportunity to get vaccinated in the Hofburg.
October 26th marks Austria’s national holiday – and a reason to celebrate. Due to the still ruling pandemic, however, many of the planned celebrations will take place online – from the armed forces’ exhibition to the guided tour through parliament. And yet: some premieres are planned, including the possibility of having a vaccination against the coronavirus administered in the marble hall of the Hofburg. Or: The first joint appearance by Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens).
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One after the other: In the morning, the turquoise-green government met in the Chancellery for the traditional Council of Ministers. Then Schallenberg and Kogler address words to the population for the first time in this constellation. Its content: The coalition is planning a security law to improve cooperation and processes in the event of a crisis. At the same time, the position of a separate government coordinator for crisis prevention is to be set up in the Federal Chancellery and a situation center is to be set up in the Ministry of the Interior, where “situation reports” are to be continuously created from now on.
“The pandemic and the terrorist attack have shown us that we are not an island of the blessed,” said Schallenberg. The aim is to draw the right lessons from this and a crisis security law that for the first time legally defines which types of crisis there can be the crisis strategy must be located at the government level and the National Council will be more closely involved, “assured Kogler. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) added in a broadcast that process plans should be developed – for pandemics, blackouts or “hybrid threat scenarios”.
Kogler: “We can see that what is going on”
The coalition itself saw Schallenberg, who only took over the post of Prime Minister from Sebastian Kurz on October 11th, as “on thin ice”, but was confident that turquoise-green would outlast the legislative period. The pandemic clearly shows that “each of us” has a responsibility, in society and politics, to Schallenberg. Anyone who believes that he can unilaterally slip out of responsibility in the fight, “is deceiving himself”.
Similar to Kogler: A very good basis for cooperation has been established, he said. “All axes” worked between the chancellor and vice-chancellor, the club leaders and the party leaders – he and Kurz – would have “an appropriate basis for discussion,” said Kogler. “We can see that things are going on.”
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This was followed by the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Outer Burgtor – by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and the members of the coalition – as well as the inauguration of around 100 recruits on Heldenplatz in Vienna by the head of state.
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The exhibition, including the Eurofighter overflight and the landing of four parachutists at Heldenplatz, was only partially on site, but was primarily seen digitally – citizens were asked in advance not to come to Heldenplatz, but to look at the images at home on screens to not to risk infection with the coronavirus.
Open doors with vaccination options
There are still open doors in the Hofburg: A vaccination street is open in the premises until 6 p.m. Anyone who has the first, second or third stab against the corona virus there can then visit the presidential office.
In front of the Ministry of the Interior, information is provided about the job of the police officer and about special units such as the Cobra and the Alpine Police, as well as the state crisis and disaster management. The Austrian Red Cross, the Federal Fire Brigade Association, the water rescue service, the maritime and electricity service of the police, the initiative “Together.Safe” and the mountain rescue as well as the board of trustees “Safe Austria” will also be represented. The Foreign Ministry is now focusing on crisis management and consular assistance abroad.
The National Library and its museums continue to invite visitors to the “Open House” with free admission. Digital tours are possible in the parliament, which informs about the renovation of the building. The Constitutional Court also offers a special online program.
The official celebrations will end in the evening when Federal President Van der Bellen gives his traditional TV address at 7.45 p.m.
(Red./APA)