Tyrol minister Astrid Mair announces resignation

Tyrol’s security minister Astrid Mair of the Austrian People’s Party has announced her resignation, ORF reported on Friday. Her department will not be filled by a successor.

Mair told Governor Anton Mattle that she wanted to return to the Tyrol police as a lieutenant colonel and focus again on her profession as a police officer.

“It was clear to me that I am a politician for a limited time, but remain a police officer by passion,” Mair said. She described her resignation as the right step at the right time.

Mattle thanked Mair for her work and wished her well in her future career with the Tyrol police.

Mair, 44, had applied for the deputy leadership of the foreign police. She said that receiving the position would not necessarily mean she would move there immediately. Her possible return to the police had reportedly caused discontent within the Tyrol branch of the Austrian People’s Party.