Sebastian Kurz
Sebastian Kurz (born 27 August 1986) is a former Austrian politician. He held the post of Chancellor of Austria twice, from 2017 to 2019, and in 2020 and 2021. Before, he was chancellor from 18 December 2017 to 28 May 2019. He was the world's youngest chancellor.
Sebastian Kurz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chancellor of Austria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 7 January 2020 – 11 October 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President | Alexander Van der Bellen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Werner Kogler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Brigitte Bierlein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Alexander Schallenberg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 18 December 2017 – 28 May 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President | Alexander Van der Bellen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Heinz-Christian Strache Hartwig Löger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Christian Kern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Brigitte Bierlein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman of the People's Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 15 May 2017 – 3 December 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Reinhold Mitterlehner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Karl Nehammer (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minister of Foreign Affairs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 16 December 2013 – 18 December 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chancellor | Werner Faymann Christian Kern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Michael Spindelegger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Karin Kneissl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 1 January 2017 – 18 December 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary General | Lamberto Zannier Thomas Greminger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Frank-Walter Steinmeier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Karin Kneissl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Meidling, Vienna, Austria | 27 August 1986||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | People's Party (2009–present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic partner | Susanne Thier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parents |
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Residence | Meidling, Vienna | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | GRG 12 Erlgasse (Matura) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allegiance | Austria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Branch/service | Austrian Armed Forces | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years of service | October 2004 – June 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stationed at | Maria-Theresien-Kaserne |
Career
He was Austria's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Integration from 2013 to 2017. He became Europe's youngest Foreign Minister at the age of 27.[1] In May 2017 he became the chairman of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).
Following the 2017 legislative election, the ÖVP led by Kurz secured the most seats in the National Council, leaving it in a position to lead the next government.[2]
As Chancellor he led the federal government consisting of a coalition of the ÖVP and FPÖ parties since December 18, 2017.[3] He was removed from office on 28 May 2019 by President Alexander Van der Bellen following a political scandal known as the Ibiza affair.[4]
However, he returned to power in 2020 following a snap election. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his government agendas. His response to the pandemic included lockdowns and curfews. Many of his government officials resigned.
An investigation into the Ibiza affair and a corruption inquiry led to Kurz resigning. Alexander Schallenberg, minister for foreign affairs, replaced him as chancellor on 11 October 2021.
Sebastian Kurz Media
Kurz with the president of Croatia Ivo Josipović at his first foreign visit as minister, 20 December 2013
Kurz with the United States Secretary of State John Kerry, 4 April 2016
Kurz with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 2016
Kurz with Britain's foreign secretary Boris Johnson, 20 March 2017
Kurz with Georgian foreign minister Mikheil Janelidze in Tbilisi in February 2017
Kurz with Sergey Lavrov at the OSCE summit in Mauerbach
Kurz with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow in 28 February 2018
Kurz with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, in Jerusalem in 12 June 2018
Kurz with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, on 19 October 2018
References
- ↑ "Austria swears in EU's youngest foreign minister Sebastian Kurz". BBC News. 16 December 2013.
- ↑ "Austria election results: Far-right set to enter government as conservatives top poll". The Independent. 16 October 2017.
- ↑ Sebastian Kurz gets approval for coalition with Austrian far right. Politico. 17 December 2017.
- ↑ "Löger nun Interimskanzler". orf.at (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2019-05-27.
Other websites
Media related to Sebastian Kurz at Wikimedia Commons
- Personal Website Archived 2016-09-19 at the Wayback Machine