| Josef Bucher | |
|---|---|
| National Council | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 2008 |
|
| Leader of the Bündnis Zukunft Österreich (BZÖ) | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office April 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Herbert Scheibner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 July 1965 Friesach |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Political party | Bündnis Zukunft Österreich |
Josef Bucher (born August 19, 1965 in Friesach) is an Austrian politician and is the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ). He is also a Member of Parliament for the party. Divorced with two children, Bucher is a hotel owner.[1]
After the death of BZÖ chairman Jörg Haider, Bucher was elected Klubobmann, chairman of the party's parliamentary grouping on October 22, 2008. Initially, Stefan Petzner, Haider's designated successor as party chairman was expected to be elected to that post as well. Petzner had to pass the leadership over to former vice-chairman Herbert Scheiber. His replacement as party leader was widely interpreted as the result of the rising criticism of Petzner's former media appearances.[2]
Both, Petzner and Scheibner, were elected two of five vice chairmen of the party(the other 3 being Stadler the European Parliament future leading candidate of the party, Haider's sister Haubner and former party leader of the BZÖ Westenthaler).[3]
On the 26 April 2009 at the party congress in Linz, Bucher was elected as the new leader of the party.[4]
On 30 January 2010 after the secession of the party officials and members from the Carinthian party, Bucher was elected Chairman of the newly formed Carinthian BZÖ.[5]
In a reaction about the issue that 10 per cent of Austrians own nearly 60 per cent of the country’s private assets, Bucher criticised in an interview 2011 that further lack of reforms by the Austrian Federal Government, would create new poverty in the middle class.[6]
| Preceded by Herbert Scheibner (acting) |
BZÖ Party Chairman 2009 - present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |