This is an archive article published on December 5, 2021

Austria’s next chancellor: Ex-soldier, hardliner, survivor

Nehammer, 49, is a former soldier and communications adviser who rose through the ranks of the party, eventually becoming its chairman.

Designated Chancellor of Austria and designated leader of the Austrian People's Party OVP Karl Nehammer attends a news conference in Vienna. (Reuters)

By: Reuters

2 min readViennaDec 5, 2021 10:36 PM IST First published on: Dec 5, 2021 at 10:36 PM IST

Following are some key facts about Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer, who was picked by top officials of the ruling conservative party on Friday to be their leader and the country’s next chancellor.

* Nehammer, who will succeed Sebastian Kurz and his ally the current chancellor, Alexander Schallenberg, will head the current ruling coalition between his People’s Party (OVP) and Greens.

* His current job is his first cabinet position. He was appointed when Kurz led the OVP into coalition with the Greens at the start of last year.

* Nehammer, 49, is a former soldier and communications adviser who rose through the ranks of the party, eventually becoming its chairman. He is fond of military vernacular, such as when he wished troops deploying on Austria’s border last year “Soldatenglueck!” (soldiers’ luck).