List of chancellors of Austria
The chancellor of Austria is the head of government of the Austrian Republic, appointed by the president and regarded as the country's de facto chief executive. The chancellor chairs and leads the Government, which also includes the vice-chancellor and the ministers.
Following World War I, the office was originally established by the Provisional National Assembly on 30 October 1918 as state chancellor of the Republic of German-Austria, and its first holder, Karl Renner, was appointed by the State Council. After the Allies declined a union between Austria and Germany, German-Austria established the First Austrian Republic and soon afterwards renamed the office from state chancellor to federal chancellor – the first federal chancellor was Michael Mayr. Ten chancellors served under the First Republic until Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss established the authoritarian and dictatorial Federal State of Austria. Following Dollfuss's Assassination by the Nazis, Kurt Schuschnigg succeeded him as chancellor and upheld the dictatorship, until he was superseded by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who held the office for two days until Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany.
Austria under National Socialism lost its initial system of government and was headed by Reichsstatthalter Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Reich Commissioner Josef Bürckel and Reichsstatthalter Baldur von Schirach. In 1940, the country was renamed to Ostmark, completely lost autonomy and became a domestic component of Nazi Germany. After the liberation of Vienna and the dissolution of Nazi Germany, Austria resumed its republican form of government. However, the country remained under allied occupation until 1955 and thus both the President and Chancellor were subordinate to the Allied Control Council.
Since the establishment of the republic, the People's and the Social Democratic Party have largely dominated every aspect of politics. The People's Party/Christian Social Party chaired 19 governments and was the second largest force in eight other governments; the Social Democratic Party/Social Democratic Workers' Party chaired eleven governments and was the second largest force in five other governments. The following parties never had a chancellorship but were coalition partners in governments: the Greater German People's Party in five, the Freedom Party and the Landbund in four, the Alliance for the Future of Austria and the Communist Party in one.
If the chancellor dies, resigns or is otherwise incapable, the vice-chancellor automatically becomes acting chancellor, if the president has not already replaced the chancellor. If the vice-chancellor is unavailable, the other members of the government take over in order of seniority. The unavailability of an elected chancellor does not automatically call for a new election. If the president in turn dies, resigns or is otherwise incapable, the chancellor becomes acting president, but only for twenty days; after this period presidential powers and responsibilities devolve upon the Presidium of the National Council.
Bruno Kreisky was the longest serving chancellor with 4778 days in office and Arthur Seyss-Inquart was the shortest serving chancellor with 2 days in office.
Chancellors
| Party | Portrait | Name | Tenure | Election | Cabinet composition | Appointer | ||
| SDAPÖ | Dr. Karl Renner 1870–1950 | 30 October 1918 – 7 July 1920 | 1919 | • SDAPÖ • CS • GDVP | State Council | |||
| CS | Dr. Michael Mayr 1864–1922 | 7 July 1920 – 21 June 1921 | 1920 | • CS • SDAPÖ | Michael Hainisch | |||
| None | Iur. DDDr. Johannes Schober 1874–1932 | 21 June 1921 – 26 January 1922 | – | • CS • GDVP • Experts | Michael Hainisch | |||
| CS | Walter Breisky 1871–1944 | 26 January 1922 – 27 January 1922 | – | • CS • GDVP | Michael Hainisch | |||
| None | Iur. DDDr. Johannes Schober 1874–1932 | 27 January 1922 – 31 May 1922 | – | • CS • GDVP • Experts | Michael Hainisch | |||
| CS | Dr. Ignaz Seipel 1876–1932 | 31 May 1922 – 20 November 1924 | 1923 | • CS • GDVP • Experts | Michael Hainisch | |||
| CS | Dr. Rudolf Ramek 1881–1941 | 20 November 1924 – 20 October 1926 | – | • CS • GDVP | Michael Hainisch | |||
| CS | Dr. Ignaz Seipel 1876–1932 | 20 October 1926 – 4 May 1929 | 1927 | • CS • GDVP • Landbund | Michael Hainisch | |||
| CS | Ernst Streeruwitz 1874–1952 | 4 May 1929 – 26 September 1929 | – | • CS • Landbund | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| None | Iur. DDDr. Johannes Schober 1874–1932 | 26 September 1929 – 30 September 1930 | – | • CS | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| CS | Carl Vaugoin 1873–1949 | 30 September 1930 – 4 December 1930 | – | • CS | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| CS | Dr. Otto Ender 1873–1949 | 4 December 1930 – 20 June 1931 | 1930 | • CS | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| CS | Dr. Karl Buresch 1873–1949 | 20 June 1931 – 20 May 1932 | – | • CS • Landbund | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| CS | Dr. Engelbert Dollfuss 1892–1934 | 20 May 1932 – 25 July 1934 | – | • CS • Landbund • Heimwehr 20 May 1932 – 1 May 1934 Austrofascist Dictatorship 1 May 1934 – 25 July 1934 | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| VF | Dr. Engelbert Dollfuss 1892–1934 | 20 May 1932 – 25 July 1934 | – | • CS • Landbund • Heimwehr 20 May 1932 – 1 May 1934 Austrofascist Dictatorship 1 May 1934 – 25 July 1934 | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| VF | Dr. Kurt Schuschnigg 1897–1977 | 25 July 1934 – 29 July 1934 | – | Austrofascist Dictatorship | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| VF | Dr. Kurt Schuschnigg 1897–1977 | 29 July 1934 – 11 March 1938 | – | Austrofascist Dictatorship | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| NSDAP | Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart 1892–1946 | 11 March 1938 – 13 March 1938 | – | Nazi Dictatorship | Wilhelm Miklas | |||
| NSDAP | Adolf Hitler 1889–1945 | Dr. Karl Renner 1870–1950 | 27 April 1945 – 20 December 1945 | – | • SPÖ • ÖVP • KPÖ | |||
| ÖVP | Dipl.-Ing. DDDr. Leopold Figl 1902–1965 | 20 December 1945 – 2 April 1953 | 1945 | • ÖVP • SPÖ | Karl Renner | |||
| ÖVP | Dipl.-Ing. DDDr. Leopold Figl 1902–1965 | 20 December 1945 – 2 April 1953 | 1949 | • ÖVP • SPÖ | Karl Renner | |||
| ÖVP | Ing. DDDr. Julius Raab 1891–1964 | 2 April 1953 – 11 April 1961 | 1953 | • ÖVP • SPÖ | Theodor Körner | |||
| ÖVP | Ing. DDDr. Julius Raab 1891–1964 | 2 April 1953 – 11 April 1961 | 1956 | • ÖVP • SPÖ | Theodor Körner | |||
| ÖVP | Ing. DDDr. Julius Raab 1891–1964 | 2 April 1953 – 11 April 1961 | 1959 | • ÖVP • SPÖ | Theodor Körner | |||
| ÖVP | Dr. Alfons Gorbach 1898–1972 | 11 April 1961 – 2 April 1964 | 1962 | • ÖVP • SPÖ | Adolf Schärf | |||
| ÖVP | Dr. Josef Klaus 1910–2001 | 2 April 1964 – 21 April 1970 | – | • ÖVP • SPÖ | Adolf Schärf | |||
| ÖVP | Dr. Josef Klaus 1910–2001 | 2 April 1964 – 21 April 1970 | 1966 | • ÖVP | Adolf Schärf | |||
| SPÖ | Dr. Bruno Kreisky 1911–1990 | 21 April 1970 – 24 May 1983 | 1970 | • SPÖ | Franz Jonas | |||
| SPÖ | Dr. Bruno Kreisky 1911–1990 | 21 April 1970 – 24 May 1983 | 1971 | • SPÖ | Franz Jonas | |||
| SPÖ | Dr. Bruno Kreisky 1911–1990 | 21 April 1970 – 24 May 1983 | 1975 | • SPÖ | Franz Jonas | |||
| SPÖ | Dr. Bruno Kreisky 1911–1990 | 21 April 1970 – 24 May 1983 | 1979 | • SPÖ | Franz Jonas | |||
| SPÖ | Dr. Fred Sinowatz 1929–2008 | 24 May 1983 – 16 June 1986 | 1983 | • SPÖ • FPÖ | Rudolf Kirchschläger | |||
| SPÖ | Dipl.-Kfm. Dr. Franz Vranitzky born 1937 | 16 June 1986 – 28 January 1997 | 1986 | • SPÖ • FPÖ | Rudolf Kirchschläger | |||
| SPÖ | Dipl.-Kfm. Dr. Franz Vranitzky born 1937 | 16 June 1986 – 28 January 1997 | 1990 | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Rudolf Kirchschläger | |||
| SPÖ | Dipl.-Kfm. Dr. Franz Vranitzky born 1937 | 16 June 1986 – 28 January 1997 | 1994 | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Rudolf Kirchschläger | |||
| SPÖ | Dipl.-Kfm. Dr. Franz Vranitzky born 1937 | 16 June 1986 – 28 January 1997 | 1995 | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Rudolf Kirchschläger | |||
| SPÖ | Mag. Viktor Klima born 1947 | 28 January 1997 – 4 February 2000 | – | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Thomas Klestil | |||
| ÖVP | Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel born 1945 | 4 February 2000 – 11 January 2007 | 1999 | • ÖVP • FPÖ 4 February 2000 – 3 April 2005 • ÖVP • BZÖ 3 April 2005 – 11 January 2007 | Thomas Klestil | |||
| ÖVP | Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel born 1945 | 4 February 2000 – 11 January 2007 | 2002 | • ÖVP • FPÖ 4 February 2000 – 3 April 2005 • ÖVP • BZÖ 3 April 2005 – 11 January 2007 | Thomas Klestil | |||
| SPÖ | Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer born 1960 | 11 January 2007 – 2 December 2008 | 2006 | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Heinz Fischer | |||
| SPÖ | Werner Faymann born 1960 | 2 December 2008 – 9 May 2016 | 2008 | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Heinz Fischer | |||
| SPÖ | Werner Faymann born 1960 | 2 December 2008 – 9 May 2016 | 2013 | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Heinz Fischer | |||
| ÖVP | Dr. Reinhold Mitterlehner born 1955 | 9 May 2016 – 17 May 2016 | – | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Heinz Fischer | |||
| SPÖ | Mag. Christian Kern born 1966 | 17 May 2016 – 18 December 2017 | – | • SPÖ • ÖVP | Heinz Fischer | |||
| ÖVP | Sebastian Kurz born 1986 | 18 December 2017 – 28 May 2019 | 2017 | • ÖVP • FPÖ 18 December 2017 – 22 May 2019 • ÖVP • Experts 22 May 2019 – 28 May 2019 | Alexander Van der Bellen | |||
| ÖVP | Hartwig Löger born 1965 | 28 May 2019 – 3 June 2019 | – | • ÖVP • Experts | Alexander Van der Bellen | |||
| None | Dr. Brigitte Bierlein born 1949 | 3 June 2019 – 7 January 2020 | – | Technocracy | Alexander Van der Bellen | |||
| ÖVP | Sebastian Kurz born 1986 | 7 January 2020 – Present | 2019 | • ÖVP • Greens | Alexander Van der Bellen |
Statistics
The median age at which a chancellor first takes office is 50 years and 134 days. The youngest person to ever assume the office is Sebastian Kurz, who took office at the age of 31 years, 113 days. The oldest person to become chancellor for the first time is the incumbent Brigitte Bierlein at the age of 69 years, 343 days. Karl Renner served two nonconsecutive terms; at the beginning of his second term he was 74 years, 134 days old.The oldest living former chancellor is Franz Vranitzky, born 4 October 1937. The youngest living former chancellor is Sebastian Kurz, born 27 August 1986.
The longest living chancellor was Josef Klaus, who died on 26 July 2001 at the age of 90 years, 345 days. Franz Vranitzky, the oldest living former chancellor, will surpass Klaus if he lives until 14 September 2028. The shortest living chancellor was Engelbert Dollfuss, who died on 25 July 1934 at the age of 41 years, 294 days.
| Nr | Chancellor | Date of birth | Age at ascension | Time in office | Age at retirement | Date of death | Longevity |
| 1 | Karl Renner | 47 years, 308 days | 2 years, 135 days | 75 years, 6 days | |||
| 2 | Michael Mayr | 56 years, 88 days | 349 days | 57 years, 72 days | |||
| 3 | Johann Schober | 46 years, 219 days | 1 year, 347 days | 55 years, 320 days | |||
| 4 | Walter Breisky | 50 years, 202 days | 1 day | 50 years, 203 days | |||
| 5 | Ignaz Seipel | 45 years, 316 days | 5 years, 6 days | 52 years, 289 days | |||
| 6 | Rudolf Ramek | 43 years, 222 days | 1 year, 334 days | 45 years, 191 days | |||
| 7 | Ernst Streeruwitz | 54 years, 223 days | 145 days | 55 years, 3 days | |||
| 8 | Carl Vaugoin | 57 years, 84 days | 65 days | 57 years, 149 days | |||
| 9 | Otto Ender | 54 years, 345 days | 199 days | 55 years, 179 days | |||
| 10 | Karl Buresch | 52 years, 252 days | 335 days | 53 years, 221 days | |||
| 11 | Engelbert Dollfuss | 39 years, 229 days | 2 years, 65 days | 41 years, 294 days | |||
| 12 | Kurt Schuschnigg | 36 years, 227 days | 3 years, 225 days | 40 years, 87 days | |||
| 13 | Arthur Seyss-Inquart | 45 years, 232 days | 2 days | 45 years, 234 days | |||
| 14 | Adolf Hitler | 48 years, 326 days | 7 years, 48 days | 56 years, 10 days | |||
| 15 | Leopold Figl | 43 years, 79 days | 7 years, 103 days | 50 years, 182 days | |||
| 16 | Julius Raab | 61 years, 124 days | 8 years, 9 days | 69 years, 133 days | |||
| 17 | Alfons Gorbach | 62 years, 221 days | 2 years, 357 days | 65 years, 213 days | |||
| 18 | Josef Klaus | 53 years, 231 days | 6 years, 19 days | 59 years, 249 days | |||
| 19 | Bruno Kreisky | 59 years, 89 days | 13 years, 33 days | 72 years, 122 days | |||
| 20 | Fred Sinowatz | 54 years, 108 days | 3 year, 23 days | 57 years, 131 days | |||
| 21 | Franz Vranitzky | 48 years, 255 days | 10 years, 226 days | 59 years, 116 days | Living | ||
| 22 | Viktor Klima | 49 years, 238 days | 3 years, 7 days | 52 years, 247 days | Living | ||
| 23 | Wolfgang Schüssel | 54 years, 242 days | 6 years, 341 days | 61 years, 218 days | Living | ||
| 24 | Alfred Gusenbauer | 46 years, 337 days | 1 year, 326 days | 48 years, 298 days | Living | ||
| 25 | Werner Faymann | 48 years, 212 days | 7 years, 159 days | 56 years, 5 days | Living | ||
| 26 | Christian Kern | 50 years, 134 days | 1 year, 215 days | 51 years, 348 days | Living | ||
| 27 | Sebastian Kurz | 31 years, 113 days | Ongoing | Present | Living | ||
| 28 | Brigitte Bierlein | 69 years, 343 days | 218 days | 70 years, 196 days | Living |