Norbert Darabos
Encyclopedia
Norbert Darabos is an Austria
n politician
. Since 11 January 2007, he is Minister of National Defence
first in the Gusenbauer cabinet
, then in the Faymann cabinet
. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria
(SPÖ). Darabos is part of the ethnic minority of the Burgenland Croats
. He is married and has two children.
. In the years of 1982 till 1988 he studied History and Political Science at the University of Vienna
, where he graduated in 1988.
In the period 1988 till 1991 Darabos was chief executive of the federal branch of the Dr.-Karl-Renner-Institute in Burgenland
, a social democratic think tank. Between 1991 and 1998 he was Press Speaker for the Governor of the Province of Burgenland, Karl Stix. Since 1998 he is Executive Secretary of the SPÖ Burgenland. On 19 May 1999 he became a member of the federal parliament. Between December 2000 till March 2003, Darabos was the head of the Social Democratic Group in the federal parliament of Burgenland.
Since 3 March 2003 Darabos is Secretary General of the Social Democratic Party of Austria. In 2004 he ran the election campaign of later President of Austria
Heinz Fischer
, and in 16 June 2004 he became member of the Austrian parliament (SPÖ).
After the Austrian legislative election, 2006
, in which the SPÖ gained the majority of the votes, Darabos became a member of the team that negotiated for a coalition with the Austrian People's Party
(ÖVP). In the following Grand coalition
, which took office in 11 January 2007, Darabos became Minister of National Defence
. Since 2 December 2008 his duties also comprise sports.
in Gold with Sash" (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen am Bande für die Verdienste um die Republik Österreich).
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 politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Since 11 January 2007, he is Minister of National Defence
Ministry of National Defence and Sport (Austria)
The Ministry of Defence and Sports is the government ministry of Austria for all matters relating to the military affairs or to sport...
first in the Gusenbauer cabinet
Gusenbauer cabinet
The government of Alfred Gusenbauer was sworn in on January 11, 2007 and left office on December 2, 2008....
, then in the Faymann cabinet
Faymann cabinet
The government of Werner Faymann was sworn in on December 2, 2008. Following the resignation of Vice Chancellor and ÖVP party chairman Josef Pröll from all political functions, a cabinet reshuffle took place, the new government members sworn in by the President of Austria on 21 April 2011.-...
. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
(SPÖ). Darabos is part of the ethnic minority of the Burgenland Croats
Burgenland Croats
Burgenland Croats are ethnic Croats in the Austrian state of Burgenland. Although an enclave hundreds of kilometres away from their original homeland, they have managed to preserve culture and language for centuries...
. He is married and has two children.
Personal life and political career
Darabos was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In the years of 1982 till 1988 he studied History and Political Science at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, where he graduated in 1988.
In the period 1988 till 1991 Darabos was chief executive of the federal branch of the Dr.-Karl-Renner-Institute in Burgenland
Burgenland
Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
, a social democratic think tank. Between 1991 and 1998 he was Press Speaker for the Governor of the Province of Burgenland, Karl Stix. Since 1998 he is Executive Secretary of the SPÖ Burgenland. On 19 May 1999 he became a member of the federal parliament. Between December 2000 till March 2003, Darabos was the head of the Social Democratic Group in the federal parliament of Burgenland.
Since 3 March 2003 Darabos is Secretary General of the Social Democratic Party of Austria. In 2004 he ran the election campaign of later President of Austria
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...
Heinz Fischer
Heinz Fischer
Heinz Fischer GColIH is the President of Austria. He took office on 8 July 2004 and was re-elected for a second and last term on 25 April 2010. Before he took office, Fischer was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria...
, and in 16 June 2004 he became member of the Austrian parliament (SPÖ).
After the Austrian legislative election, 2006
Austrian legislative election, 2006
The 2006 general election for the National Council in Austria was held on 1 October 2006.Following the Austrian legislative election, 1999, the Austrian People's Party had formed a coalition government with the Austrian Freedom Party , and later the Alliance for the Future of Austria .As a result...
, in which the SPÖ gained the majority of the votes, Darabos became a member of the team that negotiated for a coalition with the Austrian People's 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). In the following 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...
, which took office in 11 January 2007, Darabos became Minister of National Defence
Ministry of National Defence and Sport (Austria)
The Ministry of Defence and Sports is the government ministry of Austria for all matters relating to the military affairs or to sport...
. Since 2 December 2008 his duties also comprise sports.
Awards
In 2010, Darabos received the "Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
in Gold with Sash" (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen am Bande für die Verdienste um die Republik Österreich).
External links
- Norbert Darabos at the Website of the Austrian Defense Ministry