Who Is The Austrian Chancellor And What's Their Age?

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, 64, took office in March 2025, ending a five-month wait for a new administration. Stocker, who leads the conservative Austrian People's Party, took over from Karl Nehammer, who resigned in January 2025. Nehammer had replaced Alexander Schallenberg, who resigned in 2021, and before him, Sebastian Kurz, who resigned at 35 amid corruption allegations. Kurz had become chancellor in 2017 at the age of 31, making him one of the youngest world leaders at the time.

Sebastian Kurz's resignation

On 9 October 2021, 35-year-old Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigned amid a corruption scandal. Kurz, who led the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), denied accusations of using government funds to secure positive media coverage. He also denied claims of lying to a committee investigating corruption in state appointments.

Kurz's resignation came after prosecutors carried out raids at several locations linked to his party. He was placed under investigation along with nine others, which took his coalition government to the brink of collapse. The Greens, the junior partner in the coalition, stated that Kurz was no longer fit to be chancellor and initiated talks with opposition parties, threatening a vote of no confidence.

In response to the allegations, Kurz stated, "Of course [...] I am extremely unperturbed about what is now facing me." However, he eventually decided to step down, saying, "What's required now is stability. To resolve the impasse I want to step aside to prevent chaos." He proposed Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg as his replacement, with whom he shared a close relationship.

Despite his resignation, Kurz remained a significant figure in Austrian politics as the leader of his party. He continued to attend cabinet meetings, and some members of his party hoped for his comeback. Karl Nehammer was chosen as the new party leader and chancellor in December 2021, marking the end of the Kurz era, which had dominated Austrian politics since 2017.

Kurz's age when he became chancellor

Sebastian Kurz became the Austrian chancellor in 2017 at the age of 31, making him one of the youngest world leaders at the time. Kurz's rapid ascent to power began when he was just 24 years old, serving as a state secretary. Three years later, at 27, he became the foreign minister of Austria.

Kurz's path to becoming chancellor started when he was elected leader of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in May 2017. Later that year, he led his party to victory in the elections, becoming chancellor at 31. Kurz's rise to power was closely followed by German media, which celebrated his success as a "wunderkind conservative."

Kurz's tenure as chancellor, however, was not without controversy. He faced allegations of inciting infidelity and abetting corruption, which ultimately led to his resignation in October 2021. Kurz denied the accusations, claiming that text message fragments were taken out of context. Despite this, the WKStA maintained that Kurz was the central person in the offenses, with decisions made in his interests.

Following Kurz's resignation, Karl Nehammer was chosen as the new chancellor, with Alexander Schallenberg serving as interim chancellor until Nehammer's successor, Christian Stocker, took office in 2025. Despite no longer holding the position, Kurz remains a significant figure in Austrian politics as the leader of his party, ÖVP, and continues to exert influence through his presence at cabinet meetings.

Kurz's political party

Sebastian Kurz was the leader of the Austrian People's Party, also known as the ÖVP. Kurz became the leader of the ÖVP in May 2017 and led his party to victory in elections later that year. At the age of 31, he became one of the world's youngest-ever democratically elected heads of government.

The ÖVP, under Kurz's leadership, took a tough stance on migration, which was well-received by conservative parties across Europe. Kurz was particularly popular in neighbouring Germany, where his media savvy and tough stance on migration were seen as appealing. He was celebrated as a ""wunderkind"" and a rising star in European conservative politics.

However, Kurz's tenure as chancellor and party leader ended abruptly in 2021 amid corruption allegations. He was accused of using government money to manipulate opinion polls in favour of the ÖVP and influence media coverage. While he denied the allegations, the corruption scandal led to his resignation as chancellor. Despite stepping down, Kurz retained his position as the leader of the ÖVP and remained a significant figure in Austrian politics.

Allegations against Kurz

Sebastian Kurz, the former Austrian chancellor, resigned in 2021 amid a corruption scandal. Kurz denied the allegations against him, calling them "baseless". He also denied wrongdoing in a separate investigation from May of the same year, where he was placed under investigation for allegedly making false statements to a parliamentary commission probing corruption in state appointments.

Kurz's resignation was triggered by a corruption scandal involving him and nine others, who were placed under investigation after raids at various locations linked to his conservative People's Party (ÖVP). Kurz denied claims that he used government money for party political purposes to ensure positive coverage in a tabloid newspaper. The allegations took his coalition government to the brink of collapse after its junior partner, the Greens, said Kurz was no longer fit to be chancellor.

The corruption scandal involved a series of text message exchanges between Kurz and members of his inner circle. The investigations began with the "`Ibiza` video", which showed Austria's then-vice chancellor, ex-FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache, offering to exchange political influence for financial support. The video triggered criminal investigations and a parliamentary inquiry into alleged corruption involving leading politicians.

Kurz was also accused of perjury, as authorities investigated whether he lied to a parliamentary inquiry about his discussions with Thomas Schmid, a close associate who was maneuvering to become the head of ÖBAG, the state holding company. Kurz told the inquiry that he and Schmid had not discussed the latter's appointment before the job was advertised and that he was not directly involved in selecting ÖBAG board members.

In addition to the corruption and perjury allegations, Kurz was also accused of inciting infidelity and abetting corruption. Despite his denials and combative mood in the face of the accusations, Kurz ultimately resigned from his position as chancellor, stepping aside to prevent chaos and resolve the impasse.

Kurz's career before becoming chancellor

The Austrian chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, resigned in 2021 at the age of 35. Kurz began his political career at a young age, becoming a state secretary at 24 and a foreign minister at 27.

Kurz's rapid ascent in Austrian politics has been attributed to his strategic rebranding from his far-right, anti-immigration past, which positioned him more towards the political centre. This strategic shift was orchestrated by his strategist, Stefan Steiner. Kurz's career in politics began when he became the leader of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in May 2017. Later that year, Kurz led his party to victory in the elections, becoming, at 31, one of the world's youngest democratically elected heads of government.

Prior to becoming chancellor, Kurz served as the leader of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). He was also a member of the Austrian Parliament, where he served on various committees, including the Committee on Internal Affairs and the Committee on Legal Affairs. Kurz was known for his conservative policies, particularly his tough stance on immigration. He advocated for stricter border controls and a reduction in social benefits for refugees and migrants. These policies proved popular with many Austrians, helping to propel him into the chancellorship.

Kurz also played a significant role in shaping Austria's foreign policy before becoming chancellor. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, he contributed to decisions on Austria's international relations and diplomatic efforts. Kurz advocated for a strong relationship with the European Union while also emphasising the importance of Austria's sovereignty and independence. He supported Austria's participation in international organisations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Kurz's diplomatic skills and ability to build relationships with other world leaders further enhanced his reputation on the international stage.

Frequently asked questions