Franz Vranitzky
Chancellor of Austria
In office 16 June 1986 – 28 January 1997
Preceded by	Fred Sinowatz
Succeeded by	Viktor Klima
Personal details
Born	(1937-10-04) 4 October 1937 (age 74) Vienna, Austria
Nationality	Austrian
Political party	SPÖ
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature

Franz Vranitzky (born 4 October 1937) is an Austrian politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), he was Chancellor of Austria from 1986 to 1997.

Early life and career[link]

As the son of a foundryman, Vranitzky was born into humble circumstances in Vienna's 17th disttrict. He attended the Realgymnasium Geblergasse and studied economics, graduating in 1960. He financed his studies teaching Latin and English and as a construction worker.

As a young man, Vranitzky played basket ball and was a member of Austria's national team, which in 1960 unsuccessfully tried to qualify for the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

In 1962 he joined the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ).

In 1962, Vranitzky married Christine Christen, with whom he fathered two children.

Vranitzky began his career in 1961 at Siemens-Schuckert, but within the year switched to the National Bank of Austria. In 1969, he received a doctorate in International business studies. The following year, Hannes Androsch, minister of finance under Chancellor Bruno Kreisky had appointed him economic and financial advisor. Vranitzky served as deputy director of the Creditanstalt-Bankverein (1976–1981), briefly as its director general and as director general of the Österreichische Länderbank (1981–1984).

In 1984, Vranitzky joined the SPÖ-Freedom Party (FPÖ) government coalition under Chancellor Fred Sinowatz as minister of finance. He was criticized for receiving multiple compensations from his various functions in government-run businesses.

Chancellor of Austria[link]

In the presidential elections of 1986, Chancellor Sinowatz vociferously opposed Kurt Waldheim, the candidate of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) opposition. The former UN Secretary General's campaign for office caused international controversy due to allegations about his role as a German army officer in World War II. When Waldheim was elected on 8 June, Sinowatz resigned from the government, proposing Vranitzky as his successor.^[1]

Vranitzky entered his new office on 16 June 1986. At first he continued the government coalition with the Freedom Party. On 13 September 1986, however, radical FPÖ politician Jörg Haider was elected chairman of his party, ousting the moderate Vice Chancellor Norbert Steger. Vranitzky ended cooperation with his coalition partner and had parliament dissolved.^[2]

In the subsequent elections on 23 November 1986, the SPÖ remained the strongest party. In January 1987, Vranitzky formed a government, based on a grand coalition with the second-largest party, the Christian democrat ÖVP, with Alois Mock serving as vice-chancellor and foreign minister. In 1988, Vranitzky also succeeded Fred Sinowatz as chairman of his party.

Until 1992, Austria's foreign policy had to deal with the repercussions of the Waldheim controversy, as the Austrian president was shunned in some diplomatic circles. The United States regarded Waldheim as a persona non grata, thereby barring him from entering the country in 1987, while Israel had recalled its ambassador after Waldheim's election. Vranitzky managed to normalise Austria's relations with both countries and frequently stepped in to perform diplomatic duties commonly assigned to the president.

On 8 July 1991, in a speech in parliament, Vranitzy acknowledged a share in the responsibility for the pain brought, not by Austria as a state, but by citizens of this country, upon other people and peoples", thereby departing from the hitherto official portrayal of Austria as "Hitler's first victim."

After the end of the Cold War, Vranitzky focused on furthering relations with the nations of Eastern Europe and membership in the European Union, of which Vranitzky and his foreign minister, Alois Mock, were strong advocates. After a referendum on 12 June 1994 resulted in 66% in favour of EU membership, Austria joined the European Union in January 1995. Austria's military neutrality, which had been espoused during the Cold War, was reaffirmed in the process.

In party politics, Vranitzky kept his distance from Jörg Haider's Freedom Party - a stance the latter decried as a "policy of exclusion." In the election of 1990, Vranitzky's coalition government was confirmed when the Social Democrat vote remained stable while the ÖVP lost 17 seats, mainly to the FPÖ. The 1994 election saw heavy losses by both coalition parties, which nonetheless remained the two largest parties, while FPÖ and others made further gains. Vranitzky renewed the coalition with the ÖVP, which after May 1995 was led by foreign minister Wolfgang Schüssel. Later in the year, the grand coalition broke apart over budget policy, leading to the elections of December 1995, which however only saw slight changes in favor of SPÖ and ÖVP. Vranitzky and Schüssel resumed their coalition in March 1996.

In January 1997, Vranitzky resigned as Chancellor and as party chairman.^[3] He was succeeded in both positions by his minister of finance, Viktor Klima.^[4]

Later activities[link]

After leaving office, Vranitzky served as Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe representative for Albania from March to October 1997,^[5] before returning into the banking sector, as political constultant of the WestLB bank. In December, he was elected to the board of governors of automotive supplier Magna. He later occupied the same position for the tourism company TUI and Magic Life hotels.

In June 2005, he donated one of his kidneys to his wife Christine, who suffered from chronic kidney failure.

He actively supported his party's frontrunner Alfred Gusenbauer in the 2006 elections. During the campaign, it was revealed that in 1999 Vranitzky had received one million Shilling as a consultant for BAWAG bank, which was then under public scrutiny. It was alleged the payment was made without any service in return^[6] and that it constituted an "indirect party funding". Vranitzky denounced this allegation.^[7]

Vranitzky chairs the quarterly Vranitzky colloquia, organised by the study group WiWiPol, which discusses economic topics and their impact on Austria and Europe.

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Franz Vranitzky

v t e Chancellors of Austria First Austrian Republic Karl Renner · Michael Mayr · Johann Schober · Walter Breisky · Johann Schober · Ignaz Seipel · Rudolf Ramek · Ignaz Seipel · Ernst Streeruwitz · Johann Schober · Carl Vaugoin · Otto Ender · Karl Buresch · Engelbert Dollfuss · Kurt Schuschnigg · Arthur Seyss-Inquart Second Austrian Republic Karl Renner · Leopold Figl · Julius Raab · Alfons Gorbach · Josef Klaus · Bruno Kreisky · Fred Sinowatz · Franz Vranitzky · Viktor Klima · Wolfgang Schüssel · Alfred Gusenbauer · Werner Faymann

v t e Magna International Inc. Corporate Directors Hon. J. Trevor Eyton · Michael D. Harris, ICD.D · Lady Barbara Judge · Louis E. Lataif · Dr. Kurt J. Lauk · Donald Resnick · Frank Stronach · Donald J. Walker · Lawrence D. Worrall · William L. Young Annual Revenue $24.4 billion CAD (15% FY 2004) Employees 71,000 Stock Symbol TSX: MG.A Website www.magna.com Related MI Developments · Stronach Group · Magna Steyr · Opel · Vauxhall · Belinda Stronach See also: GM Europe

Werner Faymann
Chancellor of Austria
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 December 2008
President	Heinz Fischer
Deputy	Michael Spindelegger
Preceded by	Alfred Gusenbauer
Personal details
Born	(1960-05-04) 4 May 1960 (age 52) Vienna, Austria
Political party	Social Democratic Party
Alma mater	University of Vienna

Werner Faymann (German pronunciation: [ˈvɛɐ̯nɐ ˈfaɪman]; born 4 May 1960) is Chancellor of Austria and chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Austria SPÖ (see Faymann cabinet).

Background and earlier career[link]

Born in Vienna, Austria,^{[citation needed]} he studied law at the University of Vienna for two years but did not graduate.^[1][2]

From 1985 to 1988 Faymann was a consultant at the Zentralsparkasse Bank (now Bank Austria), which he left to become director and provincial chairman of the Viennese Tenants' counselling. He was also provincial chairman of Socialist Youth Vienna (Sozialistische Jugend Wien) from 1985 until 1994, when he became a member of the Viennese state parliament and municipal council; where he held various positions concerning housing construction and urban renewal.^[1]

Faymann was Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology in the Cabinet of Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer. On 16 June 2008 Faymann succeeded Gusenbauer as chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and led the party in the snap legislative elections, held on 28 September 2008. The election was famously preceded by Faymann and Gusenbauer together announcing a shift in the party's position towards the signing of new EU treaties, which they did by writing an open letter to Hans Dichand, the editor of the yellow press medium Kronen Zeitung, the largest newspaper in the country. This caused a scandal within the party, because the shift was not decided by any party committee, and led the pro-EU Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) to end the existing coalition, thus causing the elections. Faymann was known for his good relationship with the now-deceased Dichand, who would also support him in the following election campaign. Although the SPÖ lost 11 seats, and had a 6% swing against it (in fact, their worst result since World War II), they came ahead of their main rivals Austrian People's Party with regard to seats (57 to 51) as well as to share of the vote (29.26% to 25.98%).^[1][3] Afterwards, Faymann renewed the coalition with the Austrian People's Party, as he had announced before the election.

Faymann is married and has two children.^[1][4]

Chancellor[link]

As head of the largest party in the National Council of Austria, Faymann was asked by Federal President Heinz Fischer on 8 October to form a new Government.^[5]

A coalition was agreed upon on 23 November 2008, between the SPÖ and the ÖVP and it was sworn in on 2 December 2008.^[6]

In domestic affairs, Faymann's administration has been notable in enacting a wide range of progressive reforms in areas such as education and social security.^[7][8][9]

See also[link]

• Politics of Austria

References[link]

External links[link]

• Werner Faymann's Party Site
• Federal Chancellor of Austria Site

Media related to Werner Faymann at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Chancellors of Austria First Austrian Republic Karl Renner · Michael Mayr · Johann Schober · Walter Breisky · Johann Schober · Ignaz Seipel · Rudolf Ramek · Ignaz Seipel · Ernst Streeruwitz · Johann Schober · Carl Vaugoin · Otto Ender · Karl Buresch · Engelbert Dollfuss · Kurt Schuschnigg · Arthur Seyss-Inquart Second Austrian Republic Karl Renner · Leopold Figl · Julius Raab · Alfons Gorbach · Josef Klaus · Bruno Kreisky · Fred Sinowatz · Franz Vranitzky · Viktor Klima · Wolfgang Schüssel · Alfred Gusenbauer · Werner Faymann

v t e The Faymann Cabinet Werner Faymann | Josef Pröll | Michael Spindelegger | Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek | Alois Stöger | Maria Fekter | Claudia Bandion-Ortner | Norbert Darabos | Nikolaus Berlakovich | Rudolf Hundstorfer | Claudia Schmied | Doris Bures | Reinhold Mitterlehner | Johannes Hahn

v t e The Gusenbauer Cabinet Alfred Gusenbauer | Doris Bures/Heidrun Silhavy | Ursula Plassnik | Wilhelm Molterer | Andrea Kdolsky | Günther Platter/Maria Fekter | Maria Berger | Norbert Darabos | Josef Pröll | Erwin Buchinger | Claudia Schmied | Werner Faymann | Martin Bartenstein | Johannes Hahn

v t e European Council List of meetings · President · Party composition (1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 (Jan–Apr) • 2004 (May–Dec) • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012) Van Rompuy (President) · Faymann · Di Rupo · Borisov · Christofias · Nečas · Thorning-Schmidt · Ansip · Katainen · Hollande · Merkel · Pikrammenos · Orbán · Kenny · Monti · Dombrovskis · Grybauskaitė · Juncker · Gonzi · Rutte · Tusk · Passos Coelho · Băsescu · Fico · Janša · Rajoy · Reinfeldt · Cameron · Barroso European Union Portal

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (June 2009)

Erhard Busek speaking at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Conference

Erhard Busek (born 25 March 1941 in Vienna, Austria) is a politician from the Christian-conservative People's Party (ÖVP). At present he is Coordinator of the South-Eastern Cooperative Initiative (SECI) and Chairman of the Institute for Danube Region and Central Europe among other things.

Busek was chief of the party and Vice-Chancellor of Austria in the coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Austria with the People's Party between 1991–1995 and was an important reformer of the Austrian Universities. From January 2002 until June 2008 Busek served as Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the final person to hold the position.

Career overview[link]

Dr. Erhard Busek was born in Vienna, Austria, on 25 March 1941. He received his law degree from the University of Vienna in 1963. During his studies, he also served as Chairman of the Austrian Youth Council. He is a Roman Catholic. He was a Boy Scout in his youth.^[1][2]

He began his professional career in 1964 as legal adviser to the association of the parliamentarians of the Austrian People’s Party. He then served as Secretary General of the Austrian Federation for Trade and Commerce (1968–1975). In 1975 he was appointed Secretary General of the Austrian People’s Party and was elected Member of Parliament later that year. Erhard Busek gained additional experience in administration between 1968-1976 while with a publishing firm in the economic field. In 1976 Busek entered municipal politics. He was City Councilor and was elected Deputy-Mayor of Vienna in 1978, a position he held until 1987. He was appointed Minister for Science and Research in April 1989. From 1994 until May 1995 Busek was Minister for Education. He was elected Chairman of the Austrian People’s Party in 1991 and served as Vice-Chancellor of Austria from 1991 to 1995. In early 2000 Busek was appointed as Special Representative of the Austrian Government on EU-Enlargement. He served in that position until December 2001.

Busek has delivered many lectures on domestic and foreign topics and has participated in many conferences in Austria and abroad. He is Dr. hc. of the Universities of Kraków, of Bratislava, of Brasov and Czernowitz, of Liberec and of Webster-St. Louis University Vienna. He is Rector of the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg, Visiting Professor at Duke University, NC, USA, and at the University of Agriculture in Vienna. He is also teaching at the University Innsbruck and the University of Vienna. In addition his lectures are planned to be involved in the teaching programme of the Vienna University of Technology (Technische Universität Wien) and the University of Belgrade, Serbia, too.

From January 2002 until June 2008 Busek served as Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. Furthermore he is the Coordinator of the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI); Chairman of the “Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe” and President of the European Forum Alpbach.

He also has received awards and decorations from Poland, Hungary, Italy, Bulgaria, Liechtenstein, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. He is Honourer Senator of the Medical University of Innsbruck and is laureate of the Corvinus-Price of the "Europa Institut Budapest".

Since 2008, Busek agreed to advise the Economic Initiative for Kosovo in promoting foreign direct investments in Kosovo.^[3]

He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.^[4]

Current positions[link]

He is currently:

• Visiting Professor of the Practice of Public Policy Studies at Duke University
• Chairman of the Institute for the Danube and Central Europe
• Chairman of the European Forum Alpbach
• Co-Chair of the Commission on Radio and Television Policy: Central and Eastern Europe
• Member of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation
• Member of the Committee on Education in the European Union
• Co-ordinator of the Southeast European Co-operative Initiative (SECI), a project created in 1996 to enhance stability in Southeastern Europe through the development of economic and environmental co-operation
• Rector of Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Every year Busek and Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General, award the annual Erhard Busek SEEMO Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe, in collaboration with the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) in Vienna.

Biography[link]

^[5]

2002 - 2008: Special Co-Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe

2000 - 2001: Special Representative of the Austrian Government for the Enlargement of the European Union

1996–Present: Coordinator - Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI)

1995–Present: Chairman - Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM)

1991-1995 Vice Chancellor - Republic of Austria Chairman - Austrian People’s Party

1994-1995 Minister for Education

1989-1994 Minister for Science and Research

1978-1987 Deputy Mayor and City Councillor - City of Vienna

1976-1989 Chairman - Vienna’s People’s Party

1976-1978 Member of Parliament

1975-1976 General Secretary - Austrian People’s Party

1972-1976 General Secretary - Austrian Federal of Trade and Commerce

1964-1968 Secretary of the Parliament of the Austrian National Council

As of 1989 Collaboration with Transforming Economies

Before 1989 Engagement with Democratic and Dissident movements in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and the Former East Germany.

1959-1963 Doctor of Law, University of Vienna, Faculty of Law

1959 High School Degree, Vienna, Austria

Books[link]

• "Die unvollende Republik", Vienna (1968)
• "Demokratiekritik - Demokratiereform" (1969), together with G. Wilflinger;
• "Urbanisierung" (1970), Busek et al.
• "Qualitative Marktwirtschaft" (1975), together with Ch. Festa and I. Görner
• "Wien - ein bürgerliches Credo", Vienna (1978);
• „Die kranken Riesen – Krise des Zentralismus“ Franz Deuticke Verlag (1981);
• "Mut zum aufrechten Gang", Vienna (1983)
• "Sprache und Phantasie - Ein Gespräch zwischen Wissenschaft und Politik", Editor E. Busek and M. Peterlik, Verlag für Geschichte und Politik, Vienna (1984)
• „Projekt Mitteleuropa“, together with E. Brix, C. Ueberreuter (Wien 1986);
• „Aufbruch nach Mitteleuropa“ together with G. Wilflinger, Edition Atelier (Wien 1986);
• „Wissenschaft, Ethik und Politik“ together with M. Peterlik, Verlag für Geschichte und Politik (Wien 1987);
• „Wissenschaft und Freiheit – Ideen zu Universität und Universalität“ together with W. Mantl und M. Peterlik, Verlag für Geschichte und Politik (1989);
• Editor of „Brücken in die Zukunft – Weltausstellung Wien-Budapest 1995“, Edition Atelier (1989);
• „Heimat – Politik mit Sitz im Leben“, Braintrust Verlag (1994);
• „Mensch im Wort“ Edition Atelier (1994);
• „Mitteleuropa – Eine Spurensicherung“, Verlag Kremayr & Scheriau (1997);
• „Politik am Gängelband der Medien“ Verlag Jugend & Volk (1998);
• „Österreich und der Balkan – Vom Umgang mit dem Pulverfaß Europas“, Verlag Molden (1999);
• „Die EU-Präsidentschaft Österreichs. Eine umfassende Analyse und Dokumentation des zweiten Halbjahres 1998. Ergebnisse - Bewertungen – Schlussfolgerungen“, Alexander Schallenberg und Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, Herausgeber der Schriftenreihe: Herbert Batliner und Erhard Busek, MANZ-Verlag Wien 1999.
• Editor with Carl Baudenbacher „Europa im Zeitalter der Globalisierung – Vorträge des 1. DDr. Herbert Batliner Symposiums“, Manz Verlag (2000);
• "Eine Reise ins Innere Europas - Protokoll eines Österreichers", Wieser Verlag (2001);
• Editor together with Baudenbacher „Europa und die Globalisierung – Referate des Zweiten Wiener Globalisierungssymposiums 10. und 11. Mai 2001 “ Verlag Österreich Wien 2002;
• „Drinnen oder draußen? Die öffentliche österreichische EU-Beitrittsdebatte vor der Volksabstimmung 1994“, Franz Heschl, Herausgeber der Schriftenreihe: Herbert Batliner und Erhard Busek, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2002.
• „Paradigmenwechsel im Völkerrecht zur Jahrtausendwende. Beiträge zu aktuellen Völkerrechtsfragen“, Waldemar Hummer, Herausgeber der Schriftenreihe: Herbert Batliner und Erhard Busek, MANZ-Verlag Wien 2002.
• „Eine europäische Erregung. Die "Sanktionen" der Vierzehn gegen Österreich im Jahr 2000“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Martin Schauer, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2003
• Editor with Carl Baudenbacher „Europa und die Globalisierung – Referate des Dritten Wiener Globalisierungssymposiums 16. und 17. Mai 2002 “ Verlag Österreich;
• „Offenes Tor nach Osten“, Molden Verlag (2003);
• „Die Europäische Union auf dem Weg nach Osten“ Erhard Busek together with Werner Mikulitsch, Wieser Verlag (2003),
• Editor with Abfalter „Kultur und Wirtschaft“, Studien Verlag (2003);
• „Europa und die Globalisierung IV. Referate des Vierten Wiener Globalisierungs-Symposiums“, Hrsg. v. Carl Baudenbacher und Erhard Busek, Verlag Österreich Wien 2004.
• Editor together with Hummer „Aspekte der Globalisierung – Terrorbekämpfung, Steuerwettbewerb, Gentechnik – Referate des Fünften Globalisierungs-Symposiums 13.-14. Mai 2004";
• „Etappen am Weg zu einer Europäischen Verfassung.“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2004.
• „Der Europäische Konvent und sein Ergebnis. Eine Europäische Verfassung“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2004.
• „Alpenquerender und inneralpiner Transitverkehr“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, LIT-Verlag Wien 2005.
• „Tabubruch. Österreichs Entscheidung für die Europäische Union“, Von Manfred Scheich, Herausgeber der Schriftenreihe: Herbert Batliner und Erhard Busek, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2005.
• „Aspekte der Globalisierung. Terrorbekämpfung, Steuerwettbewerb, Gentechnik. Referate des Fünften Wiener Globalisierungs-Symosiums“, Hrsg. v. Carl Baudenbacher und Erhard Busek, Verlag Österreich Wien 2005.
• „Der Kleinstaat als Akteur in den Internationalen Beziehungen“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, Verlag der Liechtensteinischen Akademischen Gesellschaft 2005
• Editor together with Baudenbacher „Aspekte der Globalisierung - Beiträge des 6. Wiener Globalisierungssymposiums : Islam – Medien – Migration – Gentechnik * Referate des Sechsten Globalisierungssymposiums 2.-3. Juni 2005 “ Verlag Österreich Wien 2006;
• “10 Years Southeast European Cooperative Initiative. From Dayton to Brussels”, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek, SpringerWienNewYork 2006.
• „Die Konstitutionalisierung der Verbandsgewalt in der (neuen) Europäischen Union. Rechtliche, politische und ökonommische Konsequenzen der neuen Verfassung der EU“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, Böhlau Wien 2006.
• „Aspekte der Globalisierung. Beiträge des 6. Wiener Globalisierungssymposiums“. Hrsg. v. Carl Baudenbacher und Erhard Busek, Verlag Österreich Wien 2006.
• „Zu wenig, zu spät – Europa braucht ein besseres Krisenmanagement“, Edition Körber-Stiftung (2007)
• Editor together with Batliner „Zentraleuropäische Präsidententreffen. Mitteleuropa mit Klestil am Runden Tisch“, Tobias Gamper, Böhlau Wien 2007
• Editor together with Batliner „Der christlich-muslimische Dialog. Voraussetzungen - Erfahrungen – Probleme“, Heinrich Schneider, Böhlau Wien 2007

References[link]

v t e Vice-Chancellors of Austria First Republic Jodok Fink · Ferdinand Hanusch · Eduard Heinl · Walter Breisky · Felix Frank · Leopold Waber · Franz Dinghofer · Karl Hartleb · Vinzenz Schumy · Carl Vaugoin · Richard Schmitz · Johann Schober · Franz Winkler · Emil Fey · Ernst Rüdiger Starhemberg · Eduard Baar-Baarenfels · Ludwig Hülgerth · Edmund Glaise-Horstenau Second Republic Adolf Schärf · Bruno Pittermann · Fritz Bock · Hermann Withalm · Rudolf Häuser · Hannes Androsch · Fred Sinowatz · Norbert Steger · Alois Mock · Josef Riegler · Erhard Busek · Wolfgang Schüssel · Susanne Riess-Passer · Herbert Haupt · Hubert Gorbach · Wilhelm Molterer · Josef Pröll · Michael Spindelegger

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2008)

Franz Voves (born February 28, 1953 in Graz, Styria, Austria) is an Austrian politician of the SPÖ and a former player in the Austrian ice hockey national team. Since October 25, 2005, he has been Governor of Styria (Landeshauptmann der Steiermark). He was vice-governor of Styria from March 12, 2002 to October 24, 2005. March, 2nd 2002 he was elected as the chairman of the SPÖ Styria (Steiermark).

Sporting career[link]

• 1967–1977: Centre for ATSE Graz
• 1975: Austrian Ice Hockey Champion with ATSE Graz
• 1970–1977: 75 games in the Austrian Ice Hockey National Team, participation in 7 Ice Hockey World Championships and the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck
• Since 1995: president of the ASKÖ-Styria und vice president of the national ASKÖ-Association

Vocational career[link]

• 1972–1978: studies of social science and economics
• 1978: trained as a tax advisor
• 1979–present: in the Merkur Versicherung AG
• 1989–2002: Merkur board member, responsible for the financial sector

Political career[link]

Since 1995, Voves has been a member of the board of the SPÖ in Styria. On 2 March 2002, he became president of the SPÖ Styria and on the 12th of March he became vice-governor of Styria. In the 2005 elections for the Styrian government, Voves and his party got a majority with 41% of the votes, which was the first time since the Second World War that the SPÖ got a majority in an Austrian state election. On the 25nd of October 2005, 45 of the 56 members of the Styrian Landtag voted him governor of Styria.

External links[link]

• Voves Site on the official sites of Styria

This article incorporates information from the revision as of 29 June 2006 of the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.