Alexander Schallenberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Schallenberg
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Schallenberg in 2023
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| Chancellor of Austria | |
| Acting 10 January 2025 – 3 March 2025 |
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| President | Alexander Van der Bellen |
| Preceded by | Karl Nehammer |
| Succeeded by | Christian Stocker |
| In office 11 October 2021 – 6 December 2021 |
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| President | Alexander Van der Bellen |
| Vice-Chancellor | Werner Kogler |
| Preceded by | Sebastian Kurz |
| Succeeded by | Karl Nehammer |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 6 December 2021 – 3 March 2025 |
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| Chancellor | Karl Nehammer Himself (acting) |
| Preceded by | Michael Linhart |
| Succeeded by | Beate Meinl-Reisinger |
| In office 3 June 2019 – 11 October 2021 |
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| Chancellor | Brigitte Bierlein Sebastian Kurz |
| Preceded by | Karin Kneissl |
| Succeeded by | Michael Linhart |
| Minister of the Chancellery | |
| In office 6 June 2019 – 7 January 2020 Serving with Ines Stilling
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| Chancellor | Brigitte Bierlein |
| Preceded by | Gernot Blümel Juliane Bogner-Strauß |
| Succeeded by | Christine Aschbacher Karoline Edtstadler Susanne Raab |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 June 1969 Bern, Switzerland |
| Political party | People's Party (2020–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (before 2020) |
| Spouse |
Marie-Isabelle Hénin
(m. 1995) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent |
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| Education | University of Vienna Panthéon-Assas University College of Europe |
Alexander Georg Nicolas Schallenberg (born 20 June 1969) is an Austrian diplomat and politician. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2019 to 2025. For a short time in 2021, he was the 27th chancellor of Austria. He also served as acting chancellor again from January to March 2025.
Schallenberg is a member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). He was foreign minister in two different governments before becoming chancellor. He took over from Sebastian Kurz on 11 October 2021. He resigned as chancellor on 2 December 2021 and returned to his role as foreign minister. On 10 January 2025, President Alexander Van der Bellen appointed him acting chancellor again. This happened after Karl Nehammer resigned.
Schallenberg is from the Schallenberg family. He studied at the College of Europe. He was a career diplomat and became a mentor to Sebastian Kurz when Kurz was foreign minister. Schallenberg joined the government as foreign minister in 2019.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Alexander Schallenberg was born in 1969 in Bern, Switzerland. His father, Wolfgang Schallenberg, was an Austrian ambassador. Alexander grew up in different countries like India, Spain, and France, where his father worked. His father later became a top official in the Foreign Ministry.
Schallenberg speaks German, French, English, and Spanish very well. His family has a long history. They were given the title of Count in 1666.
Marriage and Children
Schallenberg married Marie-Isabelle Hénin in France in 1995. She was also a European civil servant. They had four children together. They later divorced.
Education and Diplomatic Career
Schallenberg studied law from 1989 to 1994 at the University of Vienna and the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas. From 1995 to 1996, he earned a special degree in European law from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. This college trains young leaders for Europe.
In 1997, Schallenberg joined Austria's diplomatic service. He worked at Austria's office in the European Union in Brussels from 2000 to 2005. He was in charge of legal matters there. In 2006, he became a spokesperson for the Foreign Minister.
When Sebastian Kurz became foreign minister, Schallenberg was put in charge of planning foreign policy in 2013. He was supposed to become ambassador to India in 2014, but he chose to stay and work with Kurz. Many saw Schallenberg as a guide for Kurz, who was new to foreign policy. In 2016, Schallenberg became the head of the European department in the foreign ministry.
Political Journey
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On 3 June 2019, Schallenberg became the Foreign Minister of Austria, taking over from Karin Kneissl. He kept this job in the next government, which started on 7 January 2020. He stepped down when he became chancellor but returned to the foreign minister role after his resignation.
Time as Chancellor
After Sebastian Kurz announced he would resign on 9 October 2021 due to an investigation, the ÖVP party suggested Schallenberg to become the new chancellor of Austria.
President Alexander Van der Bellen officially swore in Schallenberg as chancellor on 11 October 2021. His first act as chancellor was to name Michael Linhart, an experienced diplomat, as the new foreign minister.
In November 2021, Schallenberg announced that COVID-19 vaccines would be required in Austria starting February 2022. Austria was the first European country to make the vaccine mandatory.
Schallenberg announced his resignation on 2 December 2021. This happened just hours after Kurz said he was leaving politics. Schallenberg explained that he believed the chancellor and the party leader should be the same person.
Return to Foreign Minister Role
On 9 October 2023, Schallenberg announced that Austria would stop sending €19 million (about $20 million) in aid to Palestinian areas. This was in response to the Gaza war. He also said Austria would review its current projects there. He also called in the Iranian ambassador to discuss Iran's "horrible reactions" to the attack.
In 2025, Schallenberg was appointed acting Chancellor for a second time. This happened on 10 January, after Karl Nehammer resigned.
Awards and Recognition
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein (2019)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2020)
Other Activities
Since 2020, Schallenberg has been a trustee for the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism. This fund helps victims of the Nazi era.
See also
In Spanish: Alexander Schallenberg para niños
