Increasing Departures from Political Offices in Austria

Recent trends indicate a significant rise in personnel changes within the Austrian political landscape, particularly among the parties of the governing coalition. Notably, Anna Vetter, who served as the office manager for the Secretary of State for Deregulation, Sepp Schellhorn of the Neos party, has decided to return to her previous role in the private sector, specifically in communications consulting.

Another recent departure from the Neos party is Nikola Donig, the party's communications chief, who has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Forum Alpbach. Donig clarified that there are no hidden agendas behind his move; he was approached for the position following the departure of Feri Thierry, the former Secretary General.

Donig, with a background in journalism at ORF and previous roles as a press spokesperson for prominent political figures such as Wolfgang Schüssel and Wilhelm Molterer, has transitioned from various communication roles, including time spent with the animal welfare organization Vier Pfoten.

While these changes may not imply significant shifts within the political framework, they do highlight a noticeable trend of personnel turnover in the turquoise-red-pink political sphere. A prominent example is Gerald Fleischmann, who formerly held the position of press spokesperson for Sebastian Kurz and later served as the communications director for the ÖVP. He has opted to focus on his consulting agency, retaining his role as a key advisor to current Chancellor Christian Stocker. This relationship may benefit both Stocker and Fleischmann, as clients of the consultancy can expect valuable connections to influential political figures.

Fleischmann has also announced plans to produce a limited video series for krone.tv, where he will share insights from his political experiences and discuss the themes of his publications, including works that delve into the dynamics of politics and media.

The departure of Fleischmann has not gone unnoticed, with criticisms emerging from coalition partners like the SPÖ and Neos, who view his engagement with krone.tv as a potential conflict of interest given his ongoing advisory role with the Chancellor.

In addition to these changes, the SPÖ has also experienced notable departures, including Doris Vettermann, who previously worked as a journalist at the Kronen Zeitung and served as the press spokesperson for Minister Korinna Schumann. Edin Kustura, who was the spokesperson for Families and Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm, has shifted his focus to lead communication efforts within the Upper Austrian ÖVP regional party.

Other significant changes include Katharina Kubicek, who has left her role as the spokesperson for the SPÖ and has been succeeded by Susanne Moser. Additionally, Nina Schwarz-Horn has departed from her position as spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry.

Moreover, there are rumors of further changes within the Foreign Ministry, with reports suggesting that Arad Benkö, the chief of staff for Beate Meinl-Reisinger, may seek a return to a diplomatic role, potentially as an ambassador, after previously serving in Ukraine and Israel.