BERLIN: The new Austrian government led by a conservative
and a nationalist party is pledging to tighten the country’s asylum and
immigration regulations while maintaining a firm commitment to the
European Union, according to their coalition agreement released on
Saturday.
Under the deal, Sebastian Kurz, head of the
Austrian People’s Party, will become chancellor, which will make him
Europe’s youngest leader when he is sworn in on Monday at age 31.
Right-wing Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache will be vice
chancellor and minister for sports and public servants. “This can be the
basis for real change in Austria,” Kurz told reporters, introducing the
government programme that runs more than 180 pages.
The
document begins with a statement reinforcing Austria’s commitment to the
EU and other international organisations, saying that no Brexit-like
referendums would be allowed.
“Only in a strong Europe
can there also be a strong Austria, in which we are able to take
advantage of the opportunities of the 21st century,” the document reads.
At
the same time, the People’s Party-Freedom Party partnership is expected
to move the country to the right. Both campaigned on the need for
tougher immigration controls, quick deportations of asylum-seekers whose
requests are denied and a crackdown on radical Islam.
The
coalition agreement calls for bolstering the country’s police forces
with another 2,100 officers, as well as immigration policies that “can
be sustained by the population.” It also says asylum should only be
offered to people “for the duration of their persecution, who really
need Austria’s help”. Other points include ending illegal migration,
cutting government bureaucracy, reducing taxes and creating a new
national climate and energy strategy.
Kurz’s party
finished first in the country’s Oct 15 election and then embarked on
coalition talks with the Freedom Party, which came in third after the
centre-left Social Democrats.
In the new government, the
Freedom Party will have another five ministers in addition to Strache
and a deputy minister, including leadership of the important Interior,
Defence and Foreign Ministries, the Austria Press Agency reported.
Along
with Kurz as chancellor, the People’s Party will have seven ministers
and one deputy, with responsibilities including the Finance, Economy and
Justice Ministries.
Kurz is the foreign minister in the
outgoing government under Chancellor Christian Kern, a Social Democrat.
He has stressed the importance of a pro-European direction and is
expected to continue to take the lead on European issues even though the
Freedom Party, which has traditionally been strongly eurosceptic, will
have the Foreign Ministry.
