National holiday: “Open doors” in the Hofburg, Chancellery and Parliament

The event kicked off at 10 a.m. with the presidential office and the newly renovated parliament building. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen personally opened the doors of the Hofburg on Ballhausplatz together with his wife Doris Schmidauer. From 12 p.m. (until 5 p.m.) visitors were also able to visit the representative premises of the Chancellery.

A queue of several hundred interested people had already formed in front of the Hofburg in the morning. Van der Bellen and Schmidauer welcomed the waiting citizens at Ballhausplatz at 10 a.m. to the sound of brass music from the Austrian Justice Guard Music, shaking hands and brief small talk included. One or two autograph or selfie requests were also fulfilled before the head of state invited those waiting into the Hofburg, which is open until 3:30 p.m.

After taking part in the swearing-in of the recruits at Heldenplatz, Van der Bellen took time in the afternoon for the Hofburg visitors in the Maria Theresa Room, where governments are usually sworn in and state visits are received: together with his wife Schmidauer they shook hands and had short conversations guided. Souvenir photos with the head of state have recently been particularly popular.

The Chancellery was open to visitors from midday. It was planned that Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and the Chancellery Ministers Karoline Edtstadler and Susanne Raab (all ÖVP) would be available to visitors for a meet & greet.

Queue in front of Parliament

In the morning, a long queue of visitors had already formed in the recently renovated parliament who wanted to take a look behind the scenes of the House. The time slots offered for group tours were completely booked. The visitors were led across Parliament past the plenary chamber. The final stop was in the pillared hall, where the parliamentary groups presented themselves and representatives stood ready for discussions and selfies. In the reception salon at the end of the pillared hall, the National Council Presidents Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) and Norbert Hofer (FPÖ) as well as National Council President Doris Bures (SPÖ) were available for discussions. The Constitutional Court (VfGH) is also open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As in the previous year, the Federal Army’s performance exhibition took place at Heldenplatz. In addition to a flyover of the Eurofighter, various military branches and armored vehicles from the army were presented, and a 1:1 model of the Eurofighter was also on display. Also on display was the Army’s new helicopter (AW169M “Leonardo”).

Two parachutists from the Jagdkommando also demonstrated their skills, landing directly in front of the audience at Heldenplatz after jumping out of an Army helicopter. The Guard’s “Drill Team” also provided entertainment.

In addition to the military exhibition at Heldenplatz, Police Day took place at Minoritenplatz. The City of Vienna’s security festival takes place at Rathausplatz.

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