Alexander Van der Bellen

Alexander Van der Bellen
Name	Alexander Van der Bellen
Caption	Van der Bellen in 2022
Office	President of Austria
Term start	26 January 2017
Vicepresident	Heinz Fischer (2017–2023), Karl Nehammer (2023–present)
Predecessor	Heinz Fischer
Birth date	18 January 1944
Birth place	Vienna, Germany (now Austria)
Party	The Greens – The Green Alternative (until 2016; independent since)
Spouse	Doris Schmidauer (m. 2015), Birgit Schatz (m. 1969; div. 2015)
Alma mater	University of Innsbruck
Profession	Economist, Professor

Alexander Van der Bellen is an Austrian politician and economist who has served as the President of Austria since 2017. A former member of The Greens – The Green Alternative, he ran as an independent candidate, becoming the first president not affiliated with either the Social Democratic Party or the Austrian People's Party. His presidency has been marked by a focus on European integration, climate change, and upholding liberal democracy amidst political turbulence, including the Ibiza affair and the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria.

Early life and education

He was born in Vienna in 1944 to an aristocratic family of Russian-Estonian origin who had fled the Soviet Union. His early childhood was spent in Tyrol, where his family sought refuge after World War II. He attended the Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck before enrolling at the University of Innsbruck to study economics. His academic pursuits were influenced by the works of John Maynard Keynes and he became an active member of the Austrian Students' Association. He completed his doctorate in economics in 1970, with a dissertation focusing on welfare economics.

Academic career

He began his academic career as a research assistant at the University of Innsbruck before moving to the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna. In 1977, he was appointed a professor of economics at the University of Vienna, where he taught for over two decades. His research and publications centered on public finance, environmental economics, and income distribution, establishing him as a respected figure in Austrian academia. He also held visiting professorships at several international institutions, including the Free University of Berlin and Stanford University.

Political career

His political engagement began with The Greens – The Green Alternative, which he joined in 1992. He was elected as a member of the National Council in 1994, representing the Vienna constituency. From 1997 to 2008, he served as the parliamentary party leader of The Greens, becoming a prominent voice on issues like European Union enlargement and sustainable development. He played a key role in the 2002 and 2006 elections, which saw significant gains for his party. He left parliamentary politics in 2008 but remained influential within the Austrian green movement.

Presidency

He was elected President of Austria in the 2016 Austrian presidential election, defeating Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party of Austria in a re-run following annulled results. His inauguration in 2017 at the Hofburg palace emphasized unity and a commitment to the European Union. His tenure saw the collapse of the Kurz government following the Ibiza affair, leading him to appoint an interim government under Brigitte Bierlein. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he supported the measures of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and later Karl Nehammer. He was re-elected decisively in the 2022 Austrian presidential election, facing Walter Rosenkranz and Gerald Grosz.

Political positions and public image

Widely seen as a stabilizing and integrative figure, his political stance is firmly pro-European, advocating for a strong European Union and deeper cooperation within the European Parliament. He is a vocal advocate for ambitious climate change mitigation policies, often referencing the Paris Agreement. He has consistently defended liberal democracy, the rule of law, and a free press, positioning himself against populism and xenophobia. His measured, professorial demeanor has earned him the nickname "the professor president," and he maintains a high approval rating, particularly in urban centers like Vienna and Graz.

Personal life

He was married to Birgit Schatz, a psychologist, for over four decades; they have two adult sons. Following their divorce, he married his longtime partner and chief of staff, Doris Schmidauer, in a ceremony at the Schönbrunn Palace in 2015. An avid hiker and classical music enthusiast, he is known for his modest lifestyle. His family history, involving exile from the Soviet Union, has deeply influenced his worldview and commitment to democratic values. He holds citizenship from both Austria and Estonia.

Category:Presidents of Austria Category:1944 births Category:Living people