After all recent political havoc in my home country, Austria, I have gained the upper hand again.

As some of you already know, I’ve been living in Germany for the past 20 odd years. Thus, I have been the target of some (mostly friendly) jokes about Autria these days. Content: the political ongoings there and the deselection of Chancellor Kurz and his government.

Alas, our President, Mr. Van der Bellen, handled everthing calmly. Turns out, the Austrian Constitution offers good rules and measures for any event. Even for the unlikely one, that Parliament sacks the Chancellor and his government. It took Mr. Van der Bellen no more than a week to present an interim Government to the public. All Ministers are experts in their field, having worked for their Ministries as high ranking officials already, says Die Presse. They are led by Mrs. Bierlein, first ever female Chancellor in Austria. Mrs. Bierlein is the former President of Austria’s Constitutional Court and now leads five more women and six men to govern the country until elections are going to take place in September.

So now I am able to tell my German friends, whenever asked, that at least I come from a country governed by experts instead of mere politicians. Which seems not too shabby a position to be in, if you ask me.

Mind you, I do not know the first thing about the new Ministry or Mrs. Bierlein. Actually, I read their names in the papers for the first time. But still, I guess, they are going to do a good job of administering and representing the country. Maybe better than it was done before. Would be great, if they were up for election in autumn. Which they won’t be.

Thinking of it: why not have political parties bring up legislative texts or ideas to such a government of experts? That would be a good combination to think of, wouldn’t it? Better than the past: many experts or so-called “experts” trying to influence politicians for their own or common good, with politicians deciding on legislation in the end. Often not really knowing, what they are deciding. Why not?

After all, it was possible to find and install a 50% male / 50% female government within a week, wasn’t it? A speed unmatched even by express feministic parties like SPÖ.

Quote Mr. Van der Bellen:

„Es freut mich – ich mache keinen Hehl daraus“, sagte Van der Bellen, dass erstmals eine Frau an der Regierungsspitze steht und „Frauen und Männer in gleichem Maße in dieser Regierung sind“. Künftig könne „niemand mehr sagen: ‘Es geht leider nicht’.“

https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5638363/Mach-ma-schon_Eine-typisch-oesterreichische-Angelobung

“I am pleased – and I make no bones about it” Van der Ballen says about the fact of a first-time-ever female Government leader, and “women and men are equally part of this government”. Henceforward “none will be able to say ‘It won’t work’.”

Well said, Mr. President.

btw.: Mr. Van der Bellen himself is an expert of sorts. The University Professor supported the Green Party in Austria way back when, withdrew later and got elected President without explicitly running for a particular party.