Austrian interior minister to step down in party job shuffle

Published April 09, 2016

Austrian media are reporting that Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner is stepping down to become the deputy governor of her home state of Lower Austria, while the current deputy governor Wolfgang Sobotka will take her place.

The Tiroler Tageszeitung reported Saturday the announcement would be made Sunday at a meeting of the Austria's People's Party, to which both politicians belong, citing internal party documents.

Mikl-Leitner's spokesman didn't specifically confirm the report to Austrian news agency APA but said "it's no secret that the interior minister's heart pulls her back to Lower Austria."

Mikl-Leitner took office in 2011 and presided over the implementation of tougher border controls and stricter asylum rules for migrants. The Tageszeitung reported she's being groomed to become Lower Austria's governor when incumbent Erwin Peoell's term ends in 2018.

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