Van der Bellen has been Federal President since January 26, 2017. On Thursday he was sworn in for the second time to the highest office in the state by the Federal Assembly, the joint body of the National and Federal Councils. In the election on October 17 last year, the 79-year-old prevailed against six opponents in the first round with 56.7 percent of the votes.
Shortly after 10 a.m., President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) declared the session of the Federal Assembly open. Greetings to Van der Bellen, the Federal Government and the guests in Parliament followed.
“I vow…”
Shortly thereafter, Van der Bellen already took his oath, which Sobotka had only auditioned for. This reads: “I swear that I will faithfully observe the constitution and all laws of the republic and will fulfill my duty to the best of my knowledge and belief.” Sobotka congratulated them, followed by applause from the guests: “We welcome the new Federal President as our head of state. “
Lesson in optimism and solidarity
He is happy that he “may be back here after six years”, he has his voters to thank for that. “So here I am in this newly shining house of democracy.” The Federal President began his speech somewhat ironically with the question of whether and how he would be able to disappoint the expectations of his speech.
However, things quickly became serious: Society was in danger of abolishing the future, said Van der Bellen. In the current situation, some “no longer believed in a change for the better”, some had the feeling that “the future was once, with the parents” – “no future”. No, it’s about creating a picture of the future that you can look forward to. “Fear freezes us,” said Van der Bellen. “Let’s not let fear dictate our future!”
“We can do much more”
The Federal President asked how many of the feared catastrophes had occurred. “Not much.” The economy has grown, “more than the biggest optimists dared to dream”. The unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in years. “Who would have thought that?” And further optimistic: “But we made it, all of us,” said Van der Bellen, “not because we complained together,” but because we acted together. “And we can do a lot more.”
Around a thousand invited guests in Parliament
Around a thousand guests were invited to the swearing-in ceremony in the historic meeting room of the Parliament, which had just reopened after its general renovation. In addition to Van der Bellen and National Council President Sobotka, the Chairman of the Federal Council, Günter Kovacs (SPÖ), also had his say.
In his speech, Sobotka congratulated Van der Bellen on his re-election and thanked him for his good cooperation with Parliament. The Federal President had to overcome a variety of challenges in recent years. “On the firm basis of our constitution, which you have repeatedly apostrophized and given the attribute of beauty, you have made a significant contribution to ensuring stability in our homeland,” he said in praise.
Sobotka warned of dangers for democracy, to which there must be clear answers: “Dear Mr. Federal President, be a role model for us and give us confidence!” Kovacs similarly praised Van der Bellen’s level-headedness and prudence.
Military ceremony with flag parade
Following the parliamentary part, there will be a military ceremony for the Federal President – he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Army – with a flag parade and commemoration of the dead on Vienna’s Heldenplatz. The celebrations will continue with a reception from Van der Bellen’s home state of Tyrol.
Finally, in the afternoon, Van der Bellen receives a visit from the federal government in the presidential office. In accordance with convention, she will offer him her resignation – which is also traditionally rejected. The first date on the day after the swearing-in ceremony is symbolic: instead of a state banquet, there will be a lunch with pupils from the Sonntagberg middle school (Lower Austria) under the motto “Banquet with the future”.
Clearly at a distance from Kickl
The day before his second swearing-in, Van der Bellen clearly distanced himself from FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. In the event of a possible election victory – the FPÖ is currently in first place in polls – he cannot be sure that he will automatically be given the task of forming a government, said the 79-year-old in an ORF interview – much to the displeasure of the Freedom Party.
Van der Bellen said on Wednesday evening on the ORF program “20 questions” that he would “not try to promote an anti-European party, a party that does not condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine, through my measures”. He not only takes the oath of office to the constitution, but is also committed to his conscience.
For FPÖ “arbitrary refusal”
Kickl responded immediately via Facebook. Apparently, the will of the voters should not decide when it comes to forming a government, “but the personal arbitrariness of an individual person,” he posted. Criticism also came from FPÖ Secretary General Christian Hafenecker on Thursday. An “arbitrary refusal to form a government” by the Federal President would not only break with a practice that has been practiced since the founding of this republic, but also a deeply “anti-democratic and authoritarian act”, according to Hafenecker.
