Cabinet will be sworn in today

THE Austrian chancellor designate, Mr Viktor Klima, announced his ministerial team yesterday after the ruling Social Democratic…

THE Austrian chancellor designate, Mr Viktor Klima, announced his ministerial team yesterday after the ruling Social Democratic Party leadership unanimously approved his choice of cabinet.

Mr Klima, making his first public appearance since agreeing to take over as Chancellor from Mr Franz Vranitzky, confirmed that the Vienna city finance chief, Mr Rudolf Edlinger, would take over the finance ministry and the former state secretary for public works, Mr Karl Schloegl, would inherit the job of interior minister.

The former interior minister, Mr Caspar Einem, whose reputation suffered last year after it emerged he had made a donation to a radical left wing newsletter, will move to transport. "This is a team for the future," Mr Klima told a news conference.

Mr Vranitzky's surprise resignation as chancellor and party leader on January 18th brought about the shake up.

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President Thomas Klestil will swear in the new cabinet today. There will be no changes to posts held by the junior coalition partner, the conservative People's Party.

"I hope that [the coalition parties] will work together on a fair basis," Mr Klima said.