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Fulbright Association
1100 G Street, N.W.
Suite 525
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 347-5543
Fax: (202) 347-6540 |
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Biography of Franz Vranitzky |
| Born on October 4, 1937, in Vienna, Franz Vranitzky studied at the College of
Commerce (now the University of Economics) from which he graduated in 1960. In
1969, after several years of practical work, he received a doctorate in
economics. |
| In 1961, joined the Austrian National Bank and was assigned to the economic
research department. In 1970, he became adviser for economic and fiscal policy
to the Austrian Minister of Finance. Dr. Vranitzky was named deputy chairman of
the Board of Directors of Creditanstalt-Bankverein in 1976 and five years later
took over the same position in Oesterreichische Laenderbank. In 1981, he was
promoted to chairman of the board of Laenderbank. |
| Dr. Vranitzky joined the Federal Government of Austria in 1984 as minister of
finance, a position he held until June 16, 1986, when he was sworn in as federal
chancellor of the Republic of Austria. In 1988, he was elected chairman of the
Social Democratic Party. |
| On November 29, 1994, Dr. Vranitzky was sworn in for the fourth time as head of
government by Federal President Thomas Klestil. He headed, from 1987 to 1995, a
"Grand Coalition" government of Social Democrats (SPOe) and Christian Democrats
(OeVP). |
| As federal chancellor, Franz Vranitzky led Austria to membership in the European
Union. For his efforts on behalf of European unity, he was awarded the 1995
Karlspreis (Charlemagne) Award by the city of Aachen, Germany. |
| Dr. Vranitzky has been instrumental in helping the countries of central and
eastern Europe pursue a democratic future for their peoples. Under his
leadership, Austria has provided the second highest per capita level of economic
assistance to that region and has strongly supported international investment
there. Dr. Vranitzky also led Austria's humanitarian assistance to the victims
of war in the former Yugoslavia and to Soviet Jews seeking safe transit from the
Soviet Union during the 1980s. In 1989, Austria's decision to open the border
between Austria and Hungary allowed thousands of East Germans seeking freedom to
come to the West. |
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