December 19, 2005. Copyright 2005, Graphic News. All rights reserved

AustriaÕs Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel takes up reins of EU presidency
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, December 19, Graphic News:  It has been said that the most flamboyant thing about Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel is his collection of bright bow ties, but this does not mean that his countryÕs tenure of the European Union presidency will be dull -- Austria takes over as the EU is mired in discussions over long-term funding and facing even more rows over enlargement.

If Britain, which hands over the reins at the end of 2005, ends its stint bruised by accusations of self-interest over its Budget proposals, EU members can expect Austria to be equally vocal in defence of its rights. Schuessel has a reputation for speaking out on behalf of the UnionÕs smaller members and has shown that he is not afraid to isolate the Alpine nation.

While at home the chancellor has largely rehabilitated himself through domestic reforms, abroad he is remembered mainly for his past links with Joerg Haider of the far right Freedom Party (FPO), an alliance which has cast a shadow over his long political career.

Born in Vienna in 1945, Schuessel attended a Catholic boysÕ school before graduating and completing a doctorate in law at Vienna in 1968. That year he became secretary of the parliamentary group of the Austrian PeopleÕs Party (OVP), and in 1989 he took over the economic portfolio in the coalition government of Social Democrat Franz Vranitzky.

After he was elected leader of the OVP in 1995, Schuessel served as vice-chancellor and federal minister for foreign affairs in successive Vranitzky cabinets, as well as for the government of Viktor Klima. In 2000 the man dubbed the ÒLittle PrinceÓ by the media finally fulfilled his ambition to become chancellor, but he was unable to form a coalition with the Social Democrats and the Greens, and the price was a pact with Haider.

SchuesselÕs inclusion of Haider in the government outraged EU partners who viewed it as  a violition of the cordon sanitaire that had kept out far right parties. A programme of ÒsanctionsÓ meant that for months Austria was an unwelcome guest at the EU table. At home the chancellor had to endure two years of demonstrations by Austrians opposed to  both Haider and the governmentÕs reforms to achieve Nulldefizit (zero budget deficit).

After infighting split the FPO in two, Schuessel held snap elections and returned to power with a landslide victory in November 2002. His government, which includes an offshoot of the FPO, has continued with the unpopular Nulldefizit plan. In 2003 the government introduced asylum laws that were considered the most restrictive in Europe.

Austria is known as the strongest opponent of EU membership for Muslim nations and in October 2005 Schuessel sparked controversy by opposing accession talks for Turkey. The chancellor, who had previously agreed to talks, said these needed to be reconsidered following the rejection of the EU constitution in the Netherlands and France. He climbed down after a promise of talks for Roman Catholic Croatia.

Austria is a strong supporter of enlargement of the Union towards South Eastern Europe, and a series of Balkan conferences are scheduled to be held during its six-month presidency. Other pressing issues include the environment, security and trade talks with China. Then there are the nagging matters of the Constitution and, of course, funding.

On this last matter, Schuessel, a conservative man who keeps his family and private life separate from politics, is unlikely to give in easily to the EUÕs big players. After backing down on Turkey, he issued a loud reminder to EU colleagues that the burden of enlargement would be shared equally.
/ENDS