Alexander Van der Bellen, born in Vienna in 1944, serves as the President of Austria, a position he has held since 2017. A former professor of economics, he transitioned from a career in academia to parliamentary leadership, eventually winning the presidency as an independent candidate supported by the Green Party after a contested electoral process.
Early Life and Education
The Van der Bellen family origins trace back to the 18th century in the Netherlands before settling in the Russian Empire and later Estonia. Following the Soviet occupation of Estonia, his parents fled to Nazi Germany before eventually arriving in Vienna. After primary school in Innsbruck, he attended the Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck, graduating in 1962. He studied at the University of Innsbruck, earning a master's degree in 1966 and a doctorate in economics in 1970. He later obtained his habilitation in 1975.
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Before his entry into politics, he held various teaching and research positions. He worked as a scientific assistant at the University of Innsbruck from 1968 to 1971 and as a research fellow at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center between 1972 and 1974. He served as an associate professor at the University of Innsbruck starting in 1976 and later became an extraordinary professor at the University of Vienna, where he worked from 1980 to 1999. His academic output focused on fiscal policy, infrastructure financing, and government regulation.
Parliamentary and Party Politics
His political career began in the National Council of Austria, where he served from 1994 to 2012. During this tenure, he acted as the federal spokesperson for the Austrian Green Party between 1997 and 2008. He also served as a member of the regional parliament of Vienna from 2009 to 2015 and participated in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as a representative and substitute member between 2009 and 2012.
Presidential Election and Tenure
In the 2016 presidential election, he initially finished second but won the second round against Norbert Hofer. Following an annulment by the Constitutional Court due to irregularities in absentee vote counting, he won the repeat election in December 2016 with approximately 54% of the vote. He advocates for European federalism and centrist liberal policies. Throughout his career, he has received numerous international honors, including the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross and the Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Vienna
- Citizenship: Austria; Estonia
- Academic Degree: Doctor of Economics
- President of Austria: Since 2017
- Party Affiliation: Austrian Green Party
- Religion: Lutheranism
- Languages: German
Questions readers ask
What is his academic background?
He is a trained political economist who held professorships at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna.
When did he become President of Austria?
He assumed the office in 2017 following a repeat of the 2016 presidential election.
Achievements
- member of the National Council of Austria (1994–2012)
- member of the regional parliament of Vienna (2009–2015)
- federal spokesperson of the Austrian Green Party (1997–2008)
- President of Austria (from 2017)
- Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross — 2019
- Grand cross of the Order of the White Lion
- Educated at Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck and University of Innsbruck
