Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Christian Stocker on being sworn in as Austria’s new Chancellor and expressed his eagerness to strengthen the “mutually beneficial cooperation” between India and Austria.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “Warmly congratulate H.E. Christian Stocker on being sworn in as the Federal Chancellor of Austria. The India-Austria Enhanced Partnership is poised to make steady progress in the years to come. I look forward to working with you to take our mutually beneficial cooperation to unprecedented heights.”
Stocker was sworn in on Monday, leading a three-party coalition government, ending five months of political deadlock following Austria’s parliamentary elections. The coalition was formed after prolonged negotiations between Stocker’s Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats, and the liberal Neos, following the far-right Freedom Party’s failure to form a government despite winning the largest share of votes.
The new government faces pressing challenges, including an economic recession, rising unemployment, and budgetary pressures. Their coalition agreement reportedly includes stricter asylum policies amid growing domestic concerns.
At the swearing-in ceremony held at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen remarked on the lengthy process of forming the government, stating, “Good things come to those who wait.” This marks Austria’s longest government formation since World War II.
Despite his lack of national government experience, Stocker assumed office after serving as deputy mayor of Wiener Neustadt and later becoming a lawmaker in 2019. Austria’s new Vice Chancellor is Social Democratic leader Andreas Babler, while Neos head Beate Meinl-Reisinger has taken over as Foreign Minister. Key conservative figures like Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner retained their posts, while Markus Marterbauer was appointed as the new Finance Minister.
