Chancellor of Austria

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Chancellor of Austria
Incumbent Werner Faymann since 12 December 2008
Residence	Ballhausplatz 2
Appointer	Heinz Fischer, as President of Austria
Term length	No term limit
Inaugural holder	Karl Renner, 12 November 1918
Formation	First Austrian Republic, 12 November 1918
Website	www.bundeskanzler.at

Austria

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Austria

Constitution Constitution of Austria Executive President Heinz Fischer Federal Government Chancellor Werner Faymann Vice-Chancellor Josef Pröll Parliament Parliament/Federal Assembly Federal Council National Council Political parties Elections 2008 legislative 2006 legislative 2004 presidential 2002 legislative 1999 legislative 1998 presidential Decentralized gov't States (Länder) Landtage Districts Foreign policy Foreign relations Politics of the European Union

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The Federal Chancellor (in German: Bundeskanzler) 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 or short Chancellor is considered to be the most powerful political position in Austrian politics.

[edit] Appointment

The Chancellor is appointed by the President of Austria who is theoretically totally free in his choice. The Chancellor assumes his office immediately after the appointment and is sworn in by the president. Thus, a confirmation by the National Council (the Lower House of the Austrian parliament) is not necessary. However, since the National Council has the right to pass a motion of no confidence at any time, the president has to take the majority opinion of the National Council into account.

[edit] Role, Power

The Chancellor is "primus inter pares" (first among equal persons) in the Austrian government. He chairs the meetings of the Austrian government but has no power to instruct other Federal Ministers. He is not the head of state, nor is he the commander in chief of the Austrian Armed Forces. Both roles are vested with the Federal President. The Chancellor cannot appoint nor dismiss other federal ministers. He can only recommend such an action to the Federal President, who may then appoint or dismiss a minister. Vice versa the Federal President may only act with a recommendation of the Federal Chancellor. Furthermore the Chancellor normally also heads a federal ministry. Thus, although considered as the most powerful political position in Austria, he has a much weaker standing than the United States President or the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The political power of the Chancellor mainly derives from his power in his political party, which he normally chairs, and can vary a lot depending on whether there is a coalition or a single-party cabinet. Normally the Chancellor is the leader of the biggest party in the Austrian parliament, however the Federal President is free to appoint any other person also. In 2000 the Federal president appointed Wolfgang Schüssel although his party then had only been 3rd in the previous elections.

[edit] Chancellors of the First Austrian Republic (1918-1938)

[edit] Chancellors of the Second Austrian Republic (1945-Present)

[edit] See also

• Politics of Austria
• Vice Chancellor of Austria
• List of Federal Presidents of Austria
• Lists of incumbents
• List of Ministers-President of Austria
• List of Austrian Chancellors by Longevity

[edit] External links

• Official site of the Austrian Bundeskanzler