Sebastian Kurz

Sebastian Kurz
Sebastian Kurz
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
Nominated by
Further offices held
Member of the National Council
	In office; 9 November 2017 – 22 January 2018
Nominated by	Himself
Affiliation	People's Party
	In office; 29 October 2013 – 16 December 2013
Nominated by	Michael Spindelegger
Affiliation	People's Party
President of the Political Academy of the People's Party
	In office; 1 September 2015 – 12 March 2018
Director	Dietmar Halper
Preceded by	Werner Fasslabend
Succeeded by	Bettina Rausch
State Secretary of the Interior for Integration
	In office; 21 April 2011 – 16 December 2013
Chancellor	Werner Faymann
Minister	Johanna Mikl-Leitner
Member of the State and Municipality; Diet of Vienna
	In office; 2010–2011
Nominated by	Christine Marek
Affiliation	People's Party
Chairman of the Young People's Party
	In office; 2009–2017
Preceded by	Silvia Grünberger
Succeeded by	Stefan Schnöll
Personal details
Born	27 August 1986 (age 37); Meidling, Vienna, Austria
Political party	People's Party (2009–present)
Domestic partner	Susanne Thier
Parents	Elisabeth Kurz; Josef Kurz;
Residence	Meidling, Vienna
Education	GRG 12 Erlgasse (Matura)
Signature
Website	Official website; Chancellery website; Parliament website; Party website;
Military service
Allegiance	Austria
Branch/service	Austrian Armed Forces
Years of service	October 2004 – June 2005
Stationed at	Maria-Theresien-Kaserne

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.

Career[change | change source]

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.