After the health-related departure of Agricultural State Councilor Hans Seitinger, Governor Christopher Drexler extensively restructured the ÖVP government team. Today he not only presented Simone Schmiedtbauer as Seitinger’s successor, but also Karlheinz Kornhäusl as the successor to State Health Councilor Juliane Bogner-Strauß, who announced her resignation that morning.
Christopher Drexler describes the personnel realignment at the presentation on Monday afternoon as “an important decision for the Styrian state government and the Styrian People’s Party”. After Seitinger’s health-related resignation a few days ago, the hapless State Health Councilor Juliane Bogner-Strauß also announced her resignation this morning. There had been rumors for a long time that Drexler wanted to replace her before the state elections. Last but not least, the “Krone” had brought countless grievances in the Styrian healthcare system to the public. “It was therefore time to reorganize my team,” said Drexler at the presentation on Monday. “And I am convinced that these people will tackle the major challenges in their department with new enthusiasm.” New man for the problem area of health A new man at the head of the health department will now tackle these problems – namely Karlheinz Kornhäusl. He is a specialist, worked as an emergency doctor for a long time and currently works as an internist at the LKH Graz-West.Karlheinz Kornhäusl was born on January 1st, 1982 in Graz. He studied medicine and, after receiving his doctorate, completed training as a general practitioner and as a specialist in internal medicine. He has been politically active in the ÖVP since 1999. After the 2019 state elections, he was sent to the Federal Council by the Styrian state parliament. In September 2022, he was elected one of the six deputies of state party chairman Christopher Drexler at the state party conference of the Styrian People’s Party. He has been Graz ÖAAB chairman since November 2022. On March 1, 2023, he took over the chairmanship of the ÖVP Federal Council faction. Drexler praises his new government partner: “He is not just a doctor, but a doctor with heart and soul and I hope he is the doctor that Styrians trust Kornhäusl, himself a GAK fan, will also take over the sports agenda. “I take on the department that I am allowed to take on with great respect,” says Kornhäusl at the presentation. “Even in difficult times, you have to make decisions and approach people as equals,” is how he describes his approach. “We have some problems and construction sites that we have to recognize, name and solve step by step,” he says, looking at the future of his political challenges.Schmiedtbauer succeeds SeitingerThe fact that Bogner-Strauß could be replaced by a man was not least due to his resignation by Hans Seitinger, who will now be replaced by MEP Simone Schmiedtbauer. “She has shown that a down-to-earth woman with roots in her homeland can achieve something great on the European stage. Now we are importing them into the Styrian state government,” says Drexler, giving her roses. Apart from Hans Seitinger’s agenda, she will also take over the social department. During her presentation, Schmiedtbauer speaks of “big shoes to fill” in which she will step in as Seitinger’s successor. It was “a great honor” for her to take on the position.
source site-12