Famous Austrian Presidents

Initially an economics professor at the University of Vienna, Alexander Van der Bellen later stepped into politics and became the Federal Spokesperson of the Green Party, before taking over as the president of Austria. A self-proclaimed centrist-liberal, he was previously a member of the Social Democratic Party.

Austrian statesman and politician Wilhelm Miklas had been the president of the first Austrian republic. Initially a school headmaster, he joined politics as a member of the Christian Social Party. He later joined the right-wing conservative Fatherland Front. He was forced to resign when Austria united with Nazi Germany.

Thomas Klestil was the Austrian president as a representative of the People's Party and died of a heart attack shortly before the end of his term. He had set up the Austrian consulate-general in Los Angeles and had also been the Austrian ambassador to the UN and to the US.

The 8th president of Austria, Rudolf Kirchschläger was also a seasoned judge. Orphaned at 11, he studied law on a scholarship, which was revoked when he refused to join the Nazi Party after the Anschluss of Austria. He later joined the Wehrmacht. He had also been the Austrian ambassador to the Czech Republic.

Michael Hainisch became the first president of Austria after the fall of the monarchy post-World War II. Initially a lawyer, he joined politics as an independent candidate. He had also served as Austria’s minister of commerce and transport and had penned several books on sociology and politics.

A president of the second Austrian republic, Theodor Körner had also chaired the Federal Council and been the mayor and governor of Vienna. He was also the great-nephew of his namesake and German poet Theodor Körner. He also wrote extensively on military sciences and strategies, having served in the army before.

A prominent Austrian statesman and Bohemian nobleman of the 19th century, Franz Anton von Kolowrat-Liebsteinsky had served as the Minister-President of the Austrian Empire. He had also been the interior minister of his kingdom. He was also the main rival of Prince Klemens von Metternich.

A 3-time Minister-President of Austria, Paul Gautsch von Frankenthurn had also served his nation as its minister of education. Known for his loyalty to the Austrian monarchy, he was a trusted associate of Franz Joseph I. He died shortly before the dissolution of the monarchy in Austria.

Karl Siegmund, count von Hohenwart was an Austrian statesman who had been the Minister-President of Austria and had also served as the country’s minister of the interior. His policies of changing the position of Bohemia, by altering Austro-Hungarian constitution through the Fundamental Articles, brought about his downfall.

Initially a professor of canon law, Baron Max Hussarek von Heinlein later stepped into politics. The Austrian politician led his country as its minister-president. He resigned after his proposal for autonomous states was rejected. He later returned to his academic career and also worked with the Austrian Red Cross.