FPÖ receives important ministerial posts

vienna - The right-wing populist FPÖ gets important ministerial posts in the new Austrian government. The partner of the conservative ÖVP was assigned the portfolios of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs and Defense.

Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said Saturday that the 52-year-old Middle East expert Karin Kneissl will be Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is remarkable because she is not a member of the FPÖ. 'With this, we continue the tradition of independent ministers at the foreign ministry,' explained Strache.

He presented party secretary Herbert Kickl as the new man at Home Affairs. The 41-year-old Mario Kunasek comes to Defense. Strache becomes Minister of Sport himself. The cabinet of Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz is sworn in on Monday. In a joint declaration, ÖVP and FPÖ pledged allegiance to the European Union. There will not be an 'öxit' referendum.