Austrian conservative party faces re-vamp under new chief

Apr 14, 2011, 12:21 GMT

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger delivers a speech during his visit to the UN headquarters in Gaza City on 06 April 2011. Spindelegger visits Gaza City as part of a regional tour including Jordan and Egypt. EPA/ALI ALI

Vienna - Austria's conservative People's Party (OeVP) faced a reshuffle of faces and policies after Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger was chosen Thursday to succeed Josef Proell as party chairman and vice chancellor.

Proell stepped down from all political posts a day earlier for health reasons. The 42-year-old politician was also finance minister.

Although many commentators have cited the burden of this triple responsibility as a reason for Proell's pulmonary embolism last month, OeVP party leaders decided that Spindelegger would continue to serve as foreign minister, in addition to his new roles.

The election of 51-year-old Spindelegger came as the party is grappling with set-backs in regional elections and corruption scandals involving two EU parliamentarians who stepped down last month.

The OevP is the junior coalition partner of Chancellor Werner Faymann's Social Democratic Party (SPOe), which has positioned itself as the voice of social conscience in the aftermath of the economic and financial crisis.

'There needs to be movement,' Spindelegger told reporters. 'We need to modernize and to shape things so we can push Austria forward.'

The new party chief also announced a reshuffle among cabinet members.

The OeVP has gotten the most media attention in recent months with its tough stance on immigration, its opposition to a modernization of the high school system, and its unclear position on a reform of Austria's small army.

Spindelegger left it open which, if any, of these policies would change.

Despite the changes underway in the OeVP, Social Democratic Chancellor Faymann said he was sure that the governments constructive course would be continued with Spindelegger as a partner.

'I have been cooperating well with him as foreign minister,' Faymann said.

Spindelegger is known for his quiet and engaging style. After studying law, he rose in the party ranks and became a parliamentarian in 1993. He was sworn in as Foreign Minister in 2008.

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