President of Austria

The President of Austria is the federal head of state of Austria. Even though the constitution says the President has a lot of power, in practice the President is mostly a figurehead. The President of Austria is elected once in every six years. His or her offices are in the Leopoldine Wing of the Hofburg Imperial Palace, in Vienna.

Federal President of Austria
Incumbent Alexander Van der Bellen since 26 January 2017
Residence	Hofburg Imperial Palace
Term length	Six years (renewable once; terms may be consecutive)
Inaugural holder	Karl Seitz Karl Renner
Formation	5 March 1919 20 December 1945
Website	www.hofburg.at

Many former Presidents have had a lot of popularity while in office. No incumbent has ever lost a bid for re-election. Since 2017 the President has been Alexander Van der Bellen.

This is a list of Presidents of Austria since the establishment of that office in 1919.

List of officeholders (1919–present)

President	Portrait	Term of office		Party
Karl Seitz (1869–1950)		5 March 1919	21 October 1919	Social Democratic Workers' Party
Karl Seitz (1869–1950)		21 October 1919	9 December 1920	Social Democratic Workers' Party
Michael Hainisch (1858–1940)		9 December 1920	9 December 1924	Non-partisan
		9 December 1924	10 December 1928
Wilhelm Miklas (1872–1956)		10 December 1928	1 May 1934	Christian Social Party
				Fatherland Front
Wilhelm Miklas (1872–1956)		1 May 1934	10 December 1934	Fatherland Front
		10 December 1934	13 March 1938
Arthur Seyss-Inquart (1892–1946)		13 March 1938		National Socialist German Workers' Party
Austria annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. Independence restored in 1945.
Karl Renner (1870–1950)		20 December 1945	31 December 1950†	Socialist Party
Leopold Figl (1902–1965)		31 December 1950	21 June 1951	Austrian People's Party
Theodor Körner (1873–1957)		21 June 1951	4 January 1957†	Socialist Party
Julius Raab (1891–1964)		4 January 1957	22 May 1957	Austrian People's Party
Adolf Schärf (1890–1965)		22 May 1957	22 May 1963	Socialist Party
		22 May 1963	28 February 1965†
Josef Klaus (1910–2001)		28 February 1965	9 June 1965	Austrian People's Party
Franz Jonas (1899–1974)		9 June 1965	9 June 1971	Socialist Party
		9 June 1971	24 April 1974†
Bruno Kreisky (1911–1990)		24 April 1974	8 July 1974	Socialist Party
Rudolf Kirchschläger (1915–2000)		8 July 1974	8 July 1980	Non-partisan
		8 July 1980	8 July 1986
Kurt Waldheim (1918–2007)		8 July 1986	8 July 1992	Austrian People's Party
Thomas Klestil (1932–2004)		8 July 1992	8 July 1998	Austrian People's Party
		8 July 1998	6 July 2004†
Andreas Khol (1941–)		6 July 2004	8 July 2004	Austrian People's Party
Barbara Prammer (1954–2014)				Social Democratic Party
Thomas Prinzhorn (1943–)				Freedom Party of Austria
Heinz Fischer (1938–)		8 July 2004	8 July 2010	Social Democratic Party
		8 July 2010	8 July 2016
Doris Bures (1962–)		8 July 2016	26 January 2017	Social Democratic Party
Karlheinz Kopf (1957–)				Austrian People's Party
Norbert Hofer (1971–)				Freedom Party of Austria
Alexander Van der Bellen (1944–)		26 January 2017	Incumbent	None (supported by The Greens)

List of presidents

• Karl Seitz (10 November 1920 - 9 December 1920)
• Michael Hainisch (9 December 1920 - 10 December 1928)
• Wilhelm Miklas (10 December 1920 - 12 March 1938)
• Anschluss (1938-1945)
• Karl Renner (20 December 1945 - 31 December 1950†)
• Leopold Figl (31 December 1950 - 21 June 1951; Acting)
• Theodor Körner (21 June 1951 - 4 January 1957†)
• Julius Raab (4 January 1957 - 22 May 1957; Acting)
• Adolf Schärf (22 May 1957 - 28 February 1965†)
• Josef Klaus (28 February 1965 - 9 June 1965; Acting)
• Franz Jonas (9 June 1965 - 24 April 1974†)
• Bruno Kreisky (24 April 1974 - 8 July 1974; Acting)
• Rudolf Kirchschläger (8 July 1974 - 8 July 1986)
• Kurt Waldheim (8 July 1986 - 8 July 1992)
• Thomas Klestil (8 July 1992 - 6 July 2004†)
• Andreas Khol (6 July 2004 - 8 July 2004; Acting)
• Heinz Fischer (8 July 2004 - 26 January 2017)
• Alexander Van der Bellen (26 January 2017 - present)

President Of Austria Media

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  The "Abdication Proclamation" of Emperor Charles I.

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  Michael Hainisch, the first president of Austria

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  Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss played a key role in the history of fascism (1934).

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  Cabinet Kreisky I, with Chancellor Bruno Kreisky seated at the center of the futon and President Rudolf Kirchschläger standing behind him (center-right)

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  The renovated chamber of the National Council.

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  The Palace of Justice, seat of the Supreme Court of Justice.

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  The Golden Badge of Merit, one of the Decorations of Honour.

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  The Federal Assembly chamber in the Austrian Parliament Building.