New government brings new parliamentary groups: who's leaving, who's coming?

The National Council met today for what is probably the last time before the next federal government is formed. Once the first black-red-pink cabinet has been decided, the parliamentary groups will also be mixed up. This is because several of the future ministers and state secretaries currently have a mandate that they will give up when the government enters.

A particularly large number of people in the ÖVP could be affected. Of the candidates for a government office, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Klaudia Tanner and Claudia Plakolm currently hold federal mandates. The logical successors would be Irene Neumann-Hartberger, Rudolf Taschner and Alexander Pröll. Since the latter is being considered for a state secretariat, Kira Grünberg could also move up. With Karoline Edtstadler's move to the Salzburg state government at the latest, Franz Hörl should also be able to get a mandate again.

Neumann-Hartberger could of course also enter the National Council via the Lower Austria-South constituency and take over the mandate of the future Chancellor Christian Stocker. Then cable car lobbyist Hörl would probably soon be back in the National Council. However, it is more likely that Lukas Kurz will receive Stocker's mandate, as the Lower Austrians would otherwise be giving away a seat. Friedrich Ofenauer could possibly return if there is no other reshuffle in Lower Austria. The state mandate of Interior Minister Gerhard Karner could also become vacant again. A Tyrolean is entering parliament for the first time. The lawyer Jakob Grüner will probably take over Norbert Totschnig's mandate on the state list.

There will be less activity in the SPÖ. Women's leader Eva Maria Holzeitner is considered a sure bet in the government. Her Upper Austrian mandate will probably bring a comeback for Elisabeth Feichtinger. The federal mandate of party leader Andreas Babler will become vacant. The first possible replacement would be former state secretary Muna Duzdar. But since she is herself being considered for a government post, federal manager Klaus Seltenheim could benefit.

Michaela Schmidt is also a candidate for a cabinet post. The Salzburg native also received her mandate via the federal list. The next in line would be Sandra Breiteneder, who is, however, being considered for a state secretary position. If all of these candidates were actually to advance to the cabinet, former Defense Minister Norbert Darabos would end up being a member of parliament again.

The NEOS remain: Two seats could become vacant there. A successor is needed for the mandate of club chairwoman Beate Meinl-Reisinger. According to the Vienna state list, Ines Holzegger would be the successor. Josef Schellhorn could become state secretary. The restaurateur made it into the National Council via the federal list. Now the Carinthian state spokesman Janos Juvan could succeed him.