Alexander Schallenberg
Alexander Georg Nicolas Schallenberg OMRI (German: [ˌalɛˈksandɐ ˈɡeːɔʁk ˈnɪkolas ˈʃaln̩beʁk]; born 20 June 1969) is an Austrian diplomat, jurist, and politician who has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the government of Chancellor Karl Nehammer since 2021, previously holding the office from 2019 to 2021. A member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), he held the position in the second government of Sebastian Kurz, before briefly serving as Chancellor of Austria as Kurz's successor from 11 October to 6 December 2021.
Alexander Schallenberg OMRI | |
|---|---|
Schallenberg in 2023 | |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| Assumed office 6 December 2021 | |
| Chancellor | Karl Nehammer |
| Preceded by | Michael Linhart |
| In office 3 June 2019 – 11 October 2021 | |
| Chancellor | Brigitte Bierlein Sebastian Kurz |
| Preceded by | Karin Kneissl |
| Succeeded by | Michael Linhart |
| Chancellor of Austria | |
| In office 11 October 2021 – 6 December 2021 | |
| President | Alexander Van der Bellen |
| Vice-Chancellor | Werner Kogler |
| Preceded by | Sebastian Kurz |
| Succeeded by | Karl Nehammer |
| Minister of the Chancellery | |
| In office 6 June 2019 – 7 January 2020 | |
| 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 |
|
| Education | University of Vienna Panthéon-Assas University College of Europe |
A member of the Schallenberg family and a graduate of the College of Europe, Schallenberg was a career diplomat who became a mentor to Kurz when the latter became foreign minister. Kurz appointed him director of strategic foreign policy planning and head of the European department. Schallenberg joined the cabinet as foreign minister in 2019. After Kurz announced his pending resignation on 9 October 2021, Schallenberg was proposed by the ÖVP to replace him as Chancellor of Austria. He was sworn in on 11 October 2021. Schallenberg announced his pending resignation on 2 December 2021, after less than two months in office. His resignation took effect on 6 December; he returned to the position of foreign minister.