Josef Klaus

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Josef Klaus ~1970, Austrian Chancellor 1964-70

Josef Klaus (b. August 15, 1910 in Carinthia, d. July 26, 2001 in Vienna) was an Austrian Christian/Conservative politician of the Peoples Party (ÖVP) and the Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) from 1964 to 1970.

Klaus was governor of the Austrian province Salzburg from 1949 to 1961, then became Federal Minister of Finance and Chancellor in a coalition with the Social democrats. This "grand coalition" existed from 1945 until 1966, when the ÖVP under Klaus won the elections with a remarkable percentage. Klaus' predecessors had been Alfons Gorbach and Julius Raab, both ÖVP.

Josef Klaus started a lot of reforms and is remembered for administrating the government efficiently, but he lost the 1970 election against Bruno Kreisky (SPÖ), who was his successor as Chancellor. Klaus might have been able to continue by entering into a coalition with the FPÖ, but immediately resigned after losing the elections.

Despite his "hard image", Klaus was celebrated at his 90th birthday all over the country. In September 1971 he published his memoirs "Macht und Ohnmacht in Österreich", and up to 1995 he frequently lead seminars on political and social themes.