Sebastian Kurz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sebastian Kurz
Kurz in 2018
26th Chancellor of Austria
In office 7 January 2020 – 11 October 2021
President	Alexander Van der Bellen
Vice-Chancellor	Werner Kogler
Preceded by	Brigitte Bierlein
Succeeded by	Alexander Schallenberg
In office 18 December 2017 – 28 May 2019
President	Alexander Van der Bellen
Vice-Chancellor	Heinz-Christian Strache Hartwig Löger
Preceded by	Christian Kern
Succeeded by	Brigitte Bierlein
Chairman of the People's Party
In office 14 May 2017 – 3 December 2021
Preceded by	Reinhold Mitterlehner
Succeeded by	Karl Nehammer
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 16 December 2013 – 18 December 2017
Chancellor	Werner Faymann Christian Kern
Preceded by	Michael Spindelegger
Succeeded by	Karin Kneissl
Personal details
Born	(1986-08-27) 27 August 1986 (age 38) Meidling, Vienna, Austria
Political party	People's Party (2003–present)
Domestic partner	Susanne Thier
Children	1
Parents	Josef Kurz (father) Elisabeth Döller (mother)
Residences	Meidling, Vienna
Education	GRG 12 Erlgasse (Matura)
Cabinet	Faymann I Faymann II Kern Kurz I Kurz II
Signature
Website
Military service
Allegiance	Austria
Branch/service	Austrian Armed Forces
Years of service	2004–2005
Unit	Maria Theresa's Barracks

Sebastian Kurz (born 27 August 1986) is an Austrian former politician. He served two times as the 26th chancellor of Austria. His first term was from December 2017 to May 2019. His second term was from January 2020 to October 2021.

Kurz grew up in Meidling, Vienna. He started in politics by joining the Young People's Party (JVP) in 2003. He quickly moved up in the party. In 2011, he became a state secretary for integrating refugees. After the 2013 election, Kurz became Austria's foreign minister. He held this important role until December 2017.

In May 2017, Kurz became the leader of the People's Party (ÖVP). He ran for chancellor in the 2017 election. He promised to make Austria's government better and to handle immigration issues. People liked his new ideas and his young age. He won the election and formed his first government with the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). This government ended in 2019 after some political problems.

After another election in 2019, Kurz became chancellor again. This time, he formed a government with the Green Party. His second government started in January 2020. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic began, which changed their plans. Kurz resigned as chancellor in October 2021 due to an investigation. Two months later, he left politics completely.

Kurz was the youngest chancellor in Austrian history. He was also the youngest head of government in the world for about four years. Many people believe his youth brought new energy to conservative politics in Austria and Europe.

About Sebastian Kurz

Sebastian Kurz was born in Vienna. He is the only child of Elisabeth and Josef Kurz. His father is an engineer, and his mother is a teacher. His grandmother came from what is now Serbia during World War II. She settled in Austria. Kurz grew up in Meidling, Vienna, where he still lives.

He finished high school in 2004. Then, he completed his required military service in 2005. He started studying law at the University of Vienna but later left to focus on his political career. Kurz is in a relationship with Susanne Thier, an economics teacher. They have a son named Konstantin.

Early Political Journey

Starting in Youth Politics

Sebastian Kurz joined the Young People's Party (JVP) in 2003. From 2008 to 2012, he led the JVP in Vienna. He helped with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) election campaign in 2010. He became the leader of the Austrian JVP in 2009. He was re-elected with 100 percent of the votes five years later.

From 2010 to 2011, he was a member of the Viennese State and Municipality Diet. He focused on fair pensions for different generations. In June 2011, he became the state secretary for integration in the Interior Ministry. After the 2013 election, he briefly served in Parliament. In December 2013, at age 27, Kurz became the country's youngest foreign minister.

State Secretary for Integration

As state secretary, Kurz believed that good relationships between the government and religious groups were important for social integration. He suggested that students with poor language skills should have a second required preschool year.

In 2011, the Foreign Ministry, the Austrian Integration Fund, and the Education Ministry started a project called Zusammen:Österreich (Together:Austria). This project aimed to help immigrants learn about Austrian culture and traditions. It also taught them about Western ideas like religious freedom and democracy. The project sent "integration ambassadors" to schools. These ambassadors helped immigrant children feel more connected to Austria.

Kurz's budget for integration grew a lot during his time as state secretary. It went from €15 million in 2011 to €100 million by 2017. This increase mainly paid for more German language classes.

Foreign Minister of Austria

After the 2013 election, Sebastian Kurz became the head of the Foreign Ministry. In March 2014, the Foreign Ministry also took over issues related to integration. Kurz said that improving Austria's relationship with the Western Balkans was a top goal. He also said that a strong relationship with Israel and the Jewish community was very important.

In February 2014, he visited Belgrade. He said that Austria would continue to support Serbia joining the European Union (EU). This was important for both economic and political reasons.

In November 2014, Kurz started the "#stolzdrauf" campaign. This campaign encouraged people to show their patriotism on social media. Many famous people and organizations supported it. However, the amount of money spent on promoting the campaign was criticized.

On 25 February 2015, Parliament changed the Islam law. This new law stopped foreign funding for Islamic religious groups. It also gave Muslims the right to spiritual care in the military, prisons, and hospitals.

In June 2015, Kurz suggested changing child benefits for foreign EU citizens. He wanted the benefits to match the cost of living in their home country. He also thought that European foreigners should pay taxes for a few years before getting Austrian social insurance. The Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) disagreed with this idea. The Freedom Party (FPÖ) liked the proposal. The Green party said Kurz was "adopting the FPÖ's hate mentality".

At the end of June 2015, Kurz planned to close embassies in Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. He wanted to open new ones in Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Qatar, and Singapore. He also planned a second Consulate General in China.

In January 2016, Kurz said that "ugly pictures" of border security were unavoidable. He meant that countries should not avoid their responsibilities for border control.

The Foreign Ministry's Recognition & Evaluation Act was passed in July 2016. This law helps people get their foreign qualifications recognized in Austria.

Kurz visited Belarus and Moscow in May 2015. He met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He said that Russia's actions in Crimea were against international law. He also said that peace could only be achieved "with and not against Russia".

In May 2016, Kurz visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They signed agreements on travel and education.

In March 2017, Kurz called rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea "NGO insanity". He believed they led to more refugees dying. He suggested that rescued refugees should be taken to camps outside Europe. The EU border agency Frontex supported his idea.

In March 2017, the Integration Act was passed. It made German language classes and "language and value" courses mandatory for refugees. It also banned full face veils in public places.

Under Kurz, the government increased funds for building international relationships. The Südwind Magazin lost its government funding, which many people criticized.

As foreign minister, Kurz led the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2017. On 18 December 2017, Kurz became chancellor. Karin Kneissl took over as foreign minister.

Leading the People's Party

In 2016, many people thought Kurz would become the leader of the ÖVP. On 10 May 2017, the previous leader, Reinhold Mitterlehner, resigned. The party then chose Kurz as their new chairman on 14 May. Kurz asked for more power to choose the party's candidates for elections. The party agreed to most of his requests.

On 1 July 2017, Kurz was officially elected chairman of the ÖVP. He received 98.7% of the votes from party delegates.

2017 Election Campaign

In the 2017 Austrian legislative election, the ÖVP ran under the name "Sebastian Kurz list – the new People's Party". Kurz presented his election program in three parts.

The first part, "New Justice & Responsibility", promised tax cuts. It was against taxes on wealth and inheritance. It also suggested reducing the minimum income for people who were not Austrian citizens. Kurz wanted to save money by making the government more efficient.

The second part focused on the economy, education, and culture. It aimed to change compulsory school attendance to "compulsory education". This meant children would need to show they could read and do basic math. If not, they would have to stay in school until age 18. It also suggested a mandatory second kindergarten year for children who did not know enough German.

The third part, "Order and Security", said that people who arrived illegally should be sent back. It also asked for a better system for legal immigration. For government reforms, it wanted clearer rules between the federal and state governments. It also called for tougher punishments for violence against women.

Becoming Chancellor

First Term (2017–2019)

Becoming Chancellor for the First Time

On 15 October 2017, Sebastian Kurz and his party won the 2017 Austrian legislative election. They received 31.5% of the votes, gaining 15 more seats in Parliament. As the leader of the party with the most seats, President Alexander Van der Bellen asked Kurz to form a new government.

Since his party did not have a majority, Kurz looked for a partner. The ÖVP started talks with the FPÖ on 25 October. They successfully finished talks on 15 December. The new government, known as the Kurz cabinet, was sworn in on 18 December 2017.

How the Government Was Set Up

In his first government, Kurz became chancellor. His party, the ÖVP, received five ministries. The FPÖ received the vice chancellorship and six ministries.

This was the first time the FPÖ was part of the government in over 10 years. It was also the first time a government included non-political experts in a long time.

The End of the First Term

On 17 May 2019, a political scandal called the Ibiza affair became public. This scandal involved Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, who was the leader of the FPÖ. A video showed him talking about possibly breaking campaign finance laws.

This video caused a lot of criticism. The next day, Strache resigned. Kurz wanted to keep the government going but asked for Herbert Kickl, the Interior Minister from the FPÖ, to be replaced. Kickl would have overseen the investigation into the scandal. The FPÖ refused Kurz's request. Because of this, Kurz ended the coalition agreement and asked the President to remove Kickl from office. The President agreed. After Kickl was removed, the other FPÖ ministers also resigned, ending the government. Kurz then filled the empty positions with non-political experts.

Since Kurz no longer had a majority in Parliament, the SPÖ proposed a motion of no confidence against his government. With support from other parties, the motion passed. This was the first time in Austrian history that a chancellor and their entire government were removed by a no-confidence vote. On 28 May, the President officially removed all cabinet members. Brigitte Bierlein then formed a temporary government.

Second Term (2020–2021)

Returning to Power

In September 2019, the ÖVP won the 2019 Austrian legislative election by a large margin. They received 37.5% of the votes, gaining nine more seats in Parliament. This was the second election in a row that the ÖVP clearly won. Because of this, President Alexander Van der Bellen again asked Kurz to form a new government on 7 October.

Kurz met with different parties to explore options. On 11 November, he announced that the ÖVP would start talks to form a government with the Green Party.

By the end of December, the talks were successful. The plan for the new government was announced on 2 January 2020. Both parties approved the agreement. Kurz was sworn in as Chancellor by President Van der Bellen on 7 January 2020.

How the Second Government Was Set Up

In his second government, Kurz remained chancellor. His party, the ÖVP, received eight ministries. The Green Party received the vice chancellorship and four ministries.

This government included more people loyal to Kurz. It was also the first time in Austrian history that the Green Party was part of the government. It was also the first government with more women than men.

The End of the Second Term

On 6 October 2021, investigators searched the Federal Chancellery and the ÖVP headquarters. This was part of an investigation involving Kurz and his close team. Prosecutors were looking into claims that Kurz had influenced news outlets in 2016. This was said to be part of a plan to remove Reinhold Mitterlehner, who was then vice chancellor and ÖVP leader, so Kurz could take his place.

After the searches, opposition parties asked Kurz to resign. They called for a special meeting of Parliament to vote on a motion of no confidence. The Greens considered supporting the motion if Kurz did not step down. On 9 October 2021, Kurz resigned as chancellor. However, he said he would stay as party chairman and lead the party in Parliament. The Greens accepted this. Opposition parties criticized this, saying Kurz would still control the government from behind the scenes.

On 11 October 2021, President Alexander Van der Bellen officially removed Kurz from office. He then appointed Alexander Schallenberg, who was the Foreign Minister, as the new chancellor.

"Shadow Chancellor" Role (2021)

After Kurz resigned as chancellor, many people called him a "shadow chancellor." This meant they believed he was still in charge of the government, even though he was not officially chancellor. Kurz himself denied this. As the leader of the main party in the government, Kurz still had a lot of influence over new laws. He also kept control over important government ministries, as they were led by people he had appointed. As the leader of the largest group in Parliament, Kurz could also propose a motion of no confidence at any time.

On 11 October 2021, Kurz was chosen to lead the ÖVP in Parliament. Three days later, he was sworn in as a member of parliament. On 15 October, investigators asked Parliament to remove his legal protection so they could continue their investigation. The ÖVP said they welcomed this, as it would allow Kurz to prove he was innocent. The new chancellor, Alexander Schallenberg, said he would work closely with Kurz and follow his policy ideas.

On 16 November 2021, a Parliament committee voted to remove Kurz's parliamentary protection. The full Parliament approved this two days later. This allowed the investigation to continue.

On 3 December 2021, Kurz resigned from his party positions. He said he wanted to spend more time with his newborn son. Karl Nehammer took over as acting party leader.

Key Political Actions

Social Policies

Legislation	Cabinet	Parliament	Concurrence	Date effective
Family Bonus Plus Act	13 June 2018	4 July 2018	ÖVP, FPÖ	1 January 2019
Social Security Act	13 March 2019	25 April 2019	ÖVP, FPÖ	1 April 2019
Social Insurance Reform Act	24 October 2018	13 December 2018	ÖVP, FPÖ	1 January 2020

Family Bonus Plus Act

In June 2018, Kurz introduced the Family Bonus Plus Act. Parliament passed it in July, and it started in January 2019. This law allows parents to reduce their income tax by up to €1,500 per year for each child under 18. For older children, it's €500. This helps parents who already receive child benefits.

The law replaced other child benefit programs. The SPÖ and welfare groups criticized it. They said it mostly helped richer families and did not help low-income or unemployed parents.

Social Security Act

In November 2018, the government finished writing a big new law called the Social Security Act. Parliament passed it in March 2019, and it started the next month. This law set national rules for basic income and unemployment insurance. It allowed state governments to add their own details.

The act set a national basic income limit. For single people, it was €863.04 per month. For couples, it was €1,208.26 per month. Parents received extra money for each child. Foreigners could get basic income after living in Austria for five years. Immigrants who did not speak much German received less money. This difference was meant to pay for their German classes. People had to re-apply for basic income every year.

Social Insurance Reform Act

On 13 December 2018, Parliament passed the Social Insurance Reform Act. This was part of Kurz's promise to make public services better. The law aimed to combine social insurance groups, reduce unnecessary jobs, and update workplaces. Kurz said that "centralizing the social insurance system will greatly help those insured." The changes started in April 2019 and finished in 2020.

Austria has a national, publicly-funded health system. Before, different state-level groups managed health insurance.

The new law combined:

• State-level general and specialized insurances into one federal system (ÖGK).
• Social Insurance for Commerce with Social Insurance for Agriculture, to form SVS.
• Different accident insurances into one for public servants, railroads, and mining.

Other groups like the Government Pension Fund stayed the same. The Social Insurance Association, which oversaw all insurances, had its power reduced. All opposition parties and experts criticized these changes. They said the law would harm the system and cost the government a lot of money.

Immigration Policies

Legislation	Cabinet	Parliament	Concurrence	Date effective
Compulsory German language classes	18 April 2018	16 May 2018	ÖVP, FPÖ	1 January 2019
Child Benefits for Foreigners Reform Act	2 May 2018	24 October 2018	ÖVP, FPÖ	1 January 2019

Required German Language Classes

On 16 May 2018, the Kurz government made German language classes mandatory in Parliament.

Starting 1 January 2019, all primary and secondary schools must offer special German language classes. These are for children who do not know enough German. These classes are only set up if a school has at least eight such students. Students are tested when they register or when they are new to Austria. If their German is "insufficient," they must attend these classes. Primary school students attend for 15 hours per week, and secondary students for 20 hours. They attend for up to four semesters or until their German improves. They still join their regular class for subjects like art and sports.

This new law replaced an older one where students could choose to attend German classes. The government said the old law was not effective enough. Schools and opposition parties strongly disagreed with the new law. They said schools would need many more rooms and teachers. They also worried that students might face discrimination.

Child Benefits for Foreigners Law

In October 2018, the Kurz government passed the Child Benefits for Foreigners Reform Act. This law affects foreign citizens of the European Union (EU) who work in Austria but whose children live in their home country. The law changes the child benefits these workers receive. It adjusts the amount to match the cost of living in their home country. This especially affected civil workers like nurses.

The European Commission criticized this law. They said it went against EU laws that prevent favoring local workers over other European workers. The commission said it would take Austria to the European Court of Justice.

Global Compact for Migration

On 31 October 2018, Kurz announced that Austria would not join the Global Compact for Migration. He said it would affect Austria's independence. He also felt it did not clearly separate illegal immigration from legal immigration for asylum.

Other Important Actions

Legislation	Cabinet	Parliament	Concurrence	Date effective
Working Hours Reform Act	n/a	7 July 2018	ÖVP, FPÖ, NEOS	1 September 2018
Monitoring Compact	21 February 2018	20 April 2018	ÖVP, FPÖ	1 June 2018
Repeal of the smoking ban	n/a	22 March 2018	ÖVP, FPÖ	22 March 2018
Reinstatement of the smoking ban	n/a	2 July 2019	ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS, JETZT	1 November 2019

Working Hours Reform Act

In July 2018, the Kurz government passed a change to the working time law. This change is often called the "12-hour workday." The law allowed people to work up to twelve hours a day and sixty hours a week. Before, the maximum was ten hours a day and fifty hours a week. Kurz said this change would let employees work more hours voluntarily.

Businesses and industries supported these changes. However, trade unions and other parties were against it. They worried that employees would not truly be able to refuse working longer hours.

Monitoring Compact

In April 2018, the government passed the monitoring compact, also called the security compact. This law allows authorities to monitor messaging services like WhatsApp and Skype. This can happen if someone is suspected of a serious crime or being a potential terrorist. The law also allows authorities to order phone companies to save a person's data for up to one year.

The compact also planned to expand video and audio surveillance in public places. Authorities could access recordings from public transportation and airports. License plate recognition systems would also be improved. Anonymous prepaid phone cards would no longer be available. Many lawyers and experts worried that this law would limit people's freedom.

Digital Office

On 19 March 2019, the Kurz government launched the Digital Office. This included a mobile application for Android and IOS and a website, oesterreich.gv.at. Both platforms combine government online services. They allow citizens to interact with authorities through the internet. Digitalizing government services was a promise Kurz made during his election campaign.

The new platforms allow users to:

• Register and cancel their main home address.
• Request birth certificates for newborn children.
• Store passport pictures.
• Get a reminder when their passport expires.
• Request a voting card for elections.

More services were planned, like requesting a new passport and using a digital driving license. To use these platforms, people need a mobile signature.

Leading the European Union Council

When Austria led the presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2018, Kurz pushed for stronger protection of the Schengen Area. He suggested that border guards should stop any migrant boats from entering Europe.

Political Views

Islam Policy

As foreign minister, Kurz asked an expert to study Islamic kindergartens. A report in 2015 found that some extreme views were growing. Because of this, the government in Vienna started checking Islamic kindergartens more closely. In June 2017, Kurz said that all Islamic kindergartens should be closed. He believed they kept children separate from society.

After a ban on full face veils was introduced, Kurz's government also banned headscarves in kindergartens. They planned to extend this ban to elementary schools.

In March 2019, the government announced plans for a new agency. This agency would watch Islamic political activities in Austria. Kurz said this was needed to protect Austria's democratic system. He suggested it could be like the center that monitors right-wing extremism.

Same-Sex Marriage

In December 2017, a court ruling made same-sex marriage in Austria legal. Before this, both the ÖVP and FPÖ were against same-sex marriage. They had rejected earlier attempts to legalize it. Kurz also opposed same-sex marriage. He believed that registered partnerships already provided equal rights.

Stopping Nuclear Weapons

As foreign minister, Kurz strongly supported stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. He believed that "nuclear weapons are a threat to all of humanity." He said they were a "dark piece of Cold War legacy" that needed to be overcome.

Kurz helped review the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In 2014, he successfully organized his own international meeting on nuclear disarmament in Vienna.

Economic Policy

In his promises for the 2017 Austrian legislative election, Kurz said he would not increase national debt. He wanted to reduce government spending and budget deficits. He planned to do this by cutting payroll and income taxes. Kurz was against any inheritance, property, and wealth taxes. He also wanted to keep cash as a common way to pay.

In December 2018, Kurz announced a nationwide digital tax. This tax would help pay for a big upcoming tax reform.

Controlling Messages

As chancellor, Kurz put in place strict rules for how the government and ministries communicated. The goal was for the government to appear united and speak with one voice. Journalists accused Kurz's government of trying to control media coverage. They said the government avoided questions and tried to influence news. Kurz himself often used short, repeated phrases.

Public Image

After Kurz's first visit to Berlin as foreign minister, a German newspaper called him "highly eloquent" and "everything but sheepish." They nicknamed him the "young Metternich". In December 2014, a German news agency named Kurz one of "the seven winners on the political world stage of 2014."

A German magazine wrote that Kurz brought "new relevance" to the Foreign Ministry. In 2017, Time magazine listed Kurz as one of ten "Next Generation Leaders." They called him a "statesman of a new kind" who found a way to deal with the European refugee crisis.

Other newspapers compared Kurz to French president Emmanuel Macron and even Jörg Haider, a right-wing politician in Austria. Some publications called him "Austria's mini Trump." In December 2018, the term "silent chancellor" was chosen as Austria's Word of the Year. The jury said this was because Kurz avoided commenting on issues he disliked.

In 2019, Spiegel Online listed Kurz as an important international figure. They noted his young age and his government with right-wing populists. They said he let his coalition partner say controversial things while he remained silent. However, his approval ratings stayed high. In March 2019, Kurz was also named "word-keeper" of 2018.

Kurz's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was not very popular. This, along with an investigation that ended his political career, caused his approval ratings to drop even more.

After Politics

Since 2022, Kurz has worked as a global strategist for Thiel Capital. This is a private investment company owned by American billionaire Peter Thiel. In January 2022, he became co-chairman of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation. In the same month, he started his own investment and consulting company, SK Management. Later that year, he helped start a cybersecurity company in Israel called Dream Security.

Awards and Honors

Award or decoration	Conferred by	Date
Honorary Citizen	Burgschleinitz-Kühnring	10 January 2018
Jerusalem Navigator	European Jewish Congress	20 November 2018
Ludwig Erhard Token of Commemoration	Economic Council Germany	31 August 2021
Order of the Republic of Serbia	Serbia	4 September 2021

See also

In Spanish: Sebastian Kurz para niños