Michael Häupl

Michael Häupl (born 14 September 1949) served as mayor and governor of Vienna from 7 November 1994 until 24 May 2018. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria.

Michael Häupl
Mayor and Governor of Vienna
In office 7 November 1994 – 24 May 2018
Deputy	Maria Vassilakou
Preceded by	Helmut Zilk
Succeeded by	Michael Ludwig
Chairman of the Social Democratic Party Acting
In office 9 May 2016 – 25 June 2016
Preceded by	Werner Faymann
Succeeded by	Christian Kern
Personal details
Born	14 September 1949 Altlengbach, Austria
Political party	Social Democratic Party
Alma mater	University of Vienna

Early life and education

Häupl was born in Altlengbach, Lower Austria. He studied Biology and Zoology[1] at the University of Vienna and was an academic assistant at the Vienna Natural History Museum from 1975 to 1983.

Political career

He was the State Chairman of the Socialist Students of Austria, the student organisation of the SPÖ from 1975 to 1978, a member of the Viennese Municipal Council from 1983 to 1988, and from 1988 until 1994, Executive City Councillor for Environment and Sport.[2] Häupl followed Helmut Zilk in 1993 as a state party chairman of the SPÖ in Vienna[3] and on 7 November 1994, he became the mayor of Vienna.

Häupl has won three elections since his appointment as mayor; each of them has led to increased majorities for the SPÖ. In the 1996 City Council election, the SPÖ lost its overall control of the 100-seat chamber with 43 seats on 39.15% of the vote. 1996 also saw a strong FPÖ, which won 29 seats (up from 21 in 1991), beating the ÖVP into third place for the second time running. For the period 1996-2001 the SPÖ governed Vienna in a coalition with the ÖVP.

In 2001 the SPÖ regained overall control with 52 seats on 46.91% of the vote; it improved on this in October 2005 with 55 seats on 49.09%. However, Häupl has also presided over a period of increased voter apathy, with turnout dropping from 68.46% in 1996 to 60.81% in 2005.

Häupl is the Deputy Federal Party chairman of the SPÖ and was considered to be one of the most important internal supporters of the former chairman, Werner Faymann.

On 14 December 2004 Häupl was elected unopposed to succeed Valéry Giscard d'Estaing as President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.

Häupl was awarded the Czech Order of the White Lion in October 2017 along with Gerhard Schröder and Borut Pahor.[4]

References

1. "Biografie von Dr. Michael Häupl". Österreichisches Parlament.
2. "Michael Häupl, SPÖ Wien". SPÖ Wien.
3. siehe Grafik. "Der Sanierer". Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
4. "Tschechischer Präsident zeichnet Altkanzler Schröder aus". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). dpa. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.

External links

• Media related to Michael Häupl at Wikimedia Commons
• CityMayors profile