Ibiza Affair: Austria Has a New Minister of the Interior

PeopleOther ♦ Published: May 23, 2019; 17:36 ♦ (Vindobona)

Eckart Ratz took over from Herbert Kickl - in the context of an expert government formed by Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz as a result of the Ibiza Affair - the official duties and the office of the Federal Minister of the Interior until the inauguration of a new government after the early National Council election in September 2019. Like his predecessor Herbert Kickl, Eckart Ratz also does not mince his words.

Prof. Dr. Eckart Ratz (left) and Alexander Van der Bellen. / Picture: © www.bundespraesident.at / Carina Karlovits and Peter Lechner / HBF

According to media reports, the lawyer once described his life motto as follows: "Don't seek quarrels, but don't avoid them".

An incident became known during his time as President of the Supreme Court when some members of the Court of Justice turned against Ratz because they saw too much influence by the President on their activities, and Ratz responded with disciplinary charges…