Inauguration for new president, Klestil memorial

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST 1. Interior parliament, Heinz Fischer, new Austrian president, approaches chair at his inauguration ceremony, bows to the house 2. Wide shot interior, all members standing for ceremony 3. Cutaway mourners including Klestil's widow, Margot Loeffler-Klestil 4. Fischer standing for ceremony 5. Close up as Fischer bows after being sworn in, applause 6. Wide shot parliament applauding 7. Orchestra and members in gallery singing national anthem 8. Wide shot members singing national anthem 9. Close up Fischer singing 10. Close up widow of Klestil dabs eyes 11. Flag flying at half mast over presidential palace, Hofberg 12. Wide shot exterior Hofberg 13. Interior presidential suite where Klestil's coffin lying in state, Fischer and his wife stand before Klestil's coffin and bow to pay respects 14. Mid shot Fischer stands back from coffin and he and wife step aside 15. Cameraman 16. Coffin is lifted and carried out, mourners fall in behind coffin, including widow and Fischer and his wife 17. Black flag hanging from wall at palace 18. Coffin is carried into another part of Hofberg to chapel of rest, followed by mourners, audio bells 19. Cutaway soldier standing to attention 20. Wide shot soldiers in courtyard of Hofberg, they stand to attention STORYLINE Austria's new president was sworn in on Thursday in a solemn ceremony overshadowed by mourning for his predecessor, who died this week just two days before his term in office was to end. Heinz Fischer of the opposition Social Democrats promised to "observe all laws and the constitution of the republic" as he was sworn in as president in Austria's Parliament. Fischer, aged 65, became Austria's first head of state from a leftist party in 31 years. He won the largely ceremonial job in elections in April, defeating conservative Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner of the ruling People's Party. Fischer's predecessor, Thomas Klestil, died on Tuesday of multiple organ failure. Klestil, 71, was airlifted to a Vienna hospital on Monday after suffering heart failure. After the swearing-in ceremony, Fischer and his fellow mourners went to pay their respects before Klestil's coffin which was lying in state in the Hofberg presidential palace. The coffin was then carried to the chapel of rest in a different part of the palace, where it will stay until his state funeral on Saturday. Mourners, including Fischer and his wife and Klestil's widow, Margot Loeffler-Klestil, followed the coffin. Since Klestil's coffin was placed in the palace on Wednesday, more than 10-thousand people had come to pay their last respects. Fischer bowed after being sworn in and began his first speech by thanking Klestil "for his life achievements." The new president announced that he had suspended his membership of the Social Democrats so he could be a president representing all Austrians - but added that he would not "lose sight of the necessary role of the opposition in a democracy." Though the post is largely ceremonial, the president is commander in chief of the country's military forces, but Austria has been a neutral country since 1955. Neutrality became an issue in the campaign leading to the April election, with Fischer's rival Ferrero-Waldner arguing it was time to reconsider the policy. Fischer contended that remaining politically detached wouldn't prevent Austria from showing solidarity with other European countries in times of conflict. Austria is one of four neutral EU members, along with Finland, Ireland and Sweden. Fischer studied law and began his political career as a lawyer for the Social Democrats. In 1963, he became secretary of Parliament's Social Democratic delegates. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a8c645b025858b3efc3bbf36270b8d50 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork