Federal President Van der Bellen: Eight new ministers sworn in!

Federal President Van der Bellen: Eight new ministers sworn in!

On April 2, 2025, an important political event took place in Austria when Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen again swore in eight ministers and three state secretaries. This swearing in was necessary for legal reasons that arose due to changes in the Federal Ministries Act, which came into force on April 1, 2025. Before this date, some ministers were unable to fully carry out their duties, which led to the decision to re-conduct the swearing-in. The government is made up of the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS parties and was sworn in for the first time on March 3, 2025 vienna.at reported.

The new legislation made significant changes to the distribution of tasks within the ministries. The work agendas of the previous Federal Ministry of Labor and Economic Affairs were transferred to the new Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. The Ministry of Economic Affairs was also given responsibility for tourism and energy.

Structure of the federal government

The Vice Chancellor's Office took over the agendas for housing, art, culture, media and sport. Another important step was the transfer of public service matters to the Federal Chancellery, which is now also responsible for family, youth, EU and integration. Responsibility for universities was transferred from the Ministry of Education to the new Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research.

Particularly noteworthy is the reform of the Climate Protection Ministry, which was significantly reduced in size by having to hand over its responsibilities for energy, climate protection and the environment to the Ministry of Agriculture. Now it only focuses on innovation, mobility and infrastructure.

The ministers of the new government

The current government is led by Chancellor Andreas Babler, MSc. Other top politicians include:

• Vizekanzler und Bundesminister für Wohnen, Kunst, Kultur, Medien und Sport: Peter Hanke
• Bundesminister für Innovation, Mobilität und Infrastruktur: Mag. Dr. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer
• Bundesminister für Wirtschaft, Energie und Tourismus: Eva-Maria Holzleitner, BSc
• Bundesministerin für Frauen, Wissenschaft und Forschung: Mag. Gerhard Karner
• Bundesminister für Inneres: Dr. Markus Marterbauer
• Bundesministerin für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten: Claudia Plakolm
• Bundesministerin für Arbeit, Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz: Dr.in Anna Sporrer
• Bundesministerin für Justiz: Mag.a Klaudia Tanner
• Bundesministerin für Landesverteidigung: Mag. Norbert Totschnig, MSc
• Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Klima- und Umweltschutz, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft: Christoph Wiederkehr, MA
• Bundesminister für Bildung: MMag.a Barbara Eibinger-Miedl

The State Secretaries, also appointed by President Van der Bellen, are key to supporting ministers and contributing to the implementation of the government agenda. The state secretaries include, among others:

• Staatssekretärin im Bundesministerium für Finanzen: Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig
• Staatssekretär im Bundesministerium für Inneres: Alexander Pröll, LL.M.
• Staatssekretärin im Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten: MMag.a Michaela Schmidt

These comprehensive reforms and the new structure of the government reflect the efforts to respond more efficiently to current challenges and to clearly define the distribution of tasks bundeskanzleramt.gv.at is carried out in detail.