A “typical” Work Day
by Dr. Heinz FischerThere is a great deal of variety in a Federal President’s day. Every work day is different, none is like any other, and that is what makes my job so exciting.
I usually get up at 6:30 a. m. I make time for a little exercise, then I have breakfast. This part of the routine does not change much. I almost always have muesli and unsweetened tea. I used to walk over to the Parliament most of the time, and go by car only occasionally. Now that has been reversed. I usually ride in the car, because in the evening, I always bring home a briefcase with mail or a file of reading materials which I need to take back to the office in the morning.
Mornings are all very different. Appointments are usually at twenty- to thirty-minute intervals, but of course there are also appointments that can be taken care of in ten minutes, and sometimes a whole hour has to be set aside. I talk to a wide range of people. They might be members of the government or Parliament, foreign diplomats or journalists, representatives of the arts or sciences, visitors from abroad, personal friends – sometimes even my children –, or representatives of the business world or labour unions. If I had my calendar at hand, even more categories would certainly occur to me.
Of course, there are also other appointments outside of the office, and I participate in events, opening speeches, etc. Sometimes I miss lunch entirely, sometimes it consists of a sandwich and fruit, and sometimes it is an opportunity to meet with one or several leading figures with whom I have something to discuss in more detail. I often have appointments outside of Vienna also, and I must say that I enjoy travelling in the federal states.
Afternoon appointments for visits are also accepted for the calendar, but enough time must also be set aside for reading the mail, working on files, returning telephone calls, and talking with colleagues. Sometimes, groups of visitors also come to the Hofburg, and there is significantly more demand for this than can be met, given the limitations of the calendar.
The evening schedule also varies a great deal, since many cultural events are traditionally held in the evening. Exhibit openings, dinners, functions, and so on are all on the program, not to forget sports events.
On the other hand, you will find hardly any balls on my calendar. In the interest of equal treatment and to avoid any sense of discrimination, I decided to attend only the Vienna Opernball [Opera Ball] as a State function; otherwise, I would have to ask people to be understanding of the fact that I cannot accept invitations to balls.
Naturally, the time of year also has some influence on the appointment calendar. In the winter, as can be expected, the schedule is organised rather differently than in the summer, and January’s appointment calendar looks somewhat different than August’s.
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