Josef Klaus
Encyclopedia
Josef Klaus was an Austria
n Christian/Conservative politician of the Peoples Party
(ÖVP) and the Federal Chancellor
(Bundeskanzler
) from 1964 to 1970. In 1934 graduated from law school. He married in 1936. During World War II he served in the German army in campaigns in Poland, France, Finland and Russia; he was captured in early 1945 and held in a POW camp.
from 1949 to 1961 and leading member of the ÖVP
. When Chancellor Julius Raab
resigned, Klaus' influence as a representative of the "young reformers" grew. Klaus became Federal Minister of Finance under Chancellor Alfons Gorbach
and followed him as Chancellor when Gorbach ran for Federal President
. Klaus formed another grand coalition
with the Social democrats which had already started in 1945 and lasted till 1966, when the ÖVP under Klaus won the elections with a remarkable percentage. In June first steps were agreed on joining the European Economic Community
which in the long run finally led to Austria joining the European Union
in 1995.
Josef Klaus started many reforms and is remembered for administrating the government efficiently, but he lost the 1970 election against Bruno Kreisky
(SPÖ
), who was his successor as Chancellor
. Klaus might have been able to continue by entering into a coalition with the FPÖ
, but immediately resigned after losing the elections.
Despite his "hard image", Klaus was celebrated at his 90th birthday all over the country. In September 1971 he published his memoirs "Macht und Ohnmacht in Österreich", and up to 1995 he frequently led seminars on political and social themes.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Christian/Conservative politician of the Peoples Party
Austrian People's Party
The Austrian People's Party is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria. A successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in terms of ideology...
(ÖVP) and the Federal Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
(Bundeskanzler
Chancellor of Austria
The Federal Chancellor is the head of government in Austria. Its deputy is the Vice-Chancellor. Before 1918, the equivalent office was the Minister-President of Austria. The Federal Chancellor is considered to be the most powerful political position in Austrian politics.-Appointment:The...
) from 1964 to 1970. In 1934 graduated from law school. He married in 1936. During World War II he served in the German army in campaigns in Poland, France, Finland and Russia; he was captured in early 1945 and held in a POW camp.
Political career
Klaus was governor of the Austrian province SalzburgSalzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
from 1949 to 1961 and leading member of the ÖVP
OVP
OVP is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:*The Office of the Vice President of the United States*The Office of the Vice President of the Philippines*OVP , a light sub-machine gun developed in Italy...
. When Chancellor Julius Raab
Julius Raab
Julius Raab was a Conservative Austrian politician. He was Federal Chancellor of Austria from 1953 to 1961. Raab steered Allied-occupied Austria to independence. In 1955 he negotiated and signed the Austrian State Treaty...
resigned, Klaus' influence as a representative of the "young reformers" grew. Klaus became Federal Minister of Finance under Chancellor Alfons Gorbach
Alfons Gorbach
Alfons Gorbach was an Austrian politician who served as Chancellor of Austria from 1961-64.From 1929-32, Gorbach was a municipal councillor in Graz...
and followed him as Chancellor when Gorbach ran for Federal President
President of Austria
The President of Austria is the federal head of state of Austria. Though theoretically entrusted with great power by the constitution, in practice the President acts, for the most part, merely as a ceremonial figurehead...
. Klaus formed another grand coalition
Grand coalition
A grand coalition is an arrangement in a multi-party parliamentary system in which the two largest political parties of opposing political ideologies unite in a coalition government...
with the Social democrats which had already started in 1945 and lasted till 1966, when the ÖVP under Klaus won the elections with a remarkable percentage. In June first steps were agreed on joining the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
which in the long run finally led to Austria joining the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
in 1995.
Josef Klaus started many reforms and is remembered for administrating the government efficiently, but he lost the 1970 election against Bruno Kreisky
Bruno Kreisky
Bruno Kreisky was an Austrian politician who served as Foreign Minister from 1959 to 1966 and as Chancellor from 1970 to 1983. Aged 72 at the end of his chancellorship, he was the oldest acting Chancellor after World War II....
(SPÖ
SPO
- Technology :SPO: Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Cloud Computing, Office 365. See Microsoft Online Services-Economics:* Secondary Public Offering, an equity capital market instrument...
), who was his successor as Chancellor
Chancellor of Austria
The Federal Chancellor is the head of government in Austria. Its deputy is the Vice-Chancellor. Before 1918, the equivalent office was the Minister-President of Austria. The Federal Chancellor is considered to be the most powerful political position in Austrian politics.-Appointment:The...
. Klaus might have been able to continue by entering into a coalition with the FPÖ
FPO
FPO may refer to:*Fleet Post Office, a "city" designation in military mail *Field post office, a term for military post offices in military mail systems *For position only, a designation for placeholder graphics...
, but immediately resigned after losing the elections.
Despite his "hard image", Klaus was celebrated at his 90th birthday all over the country. In September 1971 he published his memoirs "Macht und Ohnmacht in Österreich", and up to 1995 he frequently led seminars on political and social themes.