Meet the Minister in Charge for Austria's Presidency of the Council of the EU: Gernot Blümel
During Austria's EU Council Presidency, the name Gernot Blümel, the Federal Minister responsible not only for the EU but also for art, culture and media, will be mentioned time and again. Blümel is also chairmen of the Vienna ÖVP and a close confidant of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. His ministry is even physically integrated into the Federal Chancellery.
Blümel: "Justice for those who are willing to perform" / Picture: © Wiener Landespartei der Österreichischen Volkspartei (Wiener ÖVP)
Gernot Blümel, MBA, (born October 24, 1981 in Vienna) is a politician of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and currently Federal Minister in the Federal Chancellery for EU, Art, Culture and Media.
After graduating from high school in 2000 and completing military service with the Austrian Armed Forces, he studied philosophy (see CV). He then attended an Executive Education course, which he completed with an MBA degree.
Blümel's political career spanned the Young People's Party (JVP), parliamentary involvement in the National Council and various positions with his mentor, the later Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger.
He was Vice-president of the Young European People's Party (YEPP) from 2008 to 2010.
In December 2013 he was appointed Secretary General of the ÖVP and, following Spindelegger's resignation, Reinhold Mitterlehner confirmed him in this function.
He was campaign manager for the ÖVP at the European Parliament elections in 2014.
In October 2015 he succeeded Manfred Juraczka as chairman of the ÖVP Vienna. Since November 2015 and until his appointment as Federal Minister, he was a non-executive City Councillor in the Provincial Government of Vienna and the City Senate.
On 18 December 2017, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen first appointed Blümel Federal Minister of the Arts, Culture, the Constitution and the Media. After the changes in responsibilities in some ministries by the new government, he was appointed Federal Minister in the Federal Chancellery for EU, Arts, Culture and Media on 8 January.
He is a member of the Catholic student association KaV Norica Vienna.
| Curriculum Vitae: | |
| Date of Birth: | 24 October 1981 in Vienna |
| Education: | |
| 2002-2009 | Studied philosophy at the University of Vienna and the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, graduated with Mag.phil. |
| Studies at the Executive Academy of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, graduation with MBA | |
| Career History: | |
| 2006-2008 | Parliamentary assistant and afterwards assistant in the office of the Second President of the National Council |
| 2008-2010 | Vice-President of the Young European People's Party (YEPP) |
| 2009-2011 | Consultant at the BMEIA Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs |
| 2011-2013 | Coordination of the Council of Ministers in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger |
| 2013-2015 | Secretary General and Media Spokesman of the ÖVP |
| October 2015-April 2016 | Managing Party Chairman of the ÖVP Vienna |
| October 2015-December 2017 | City Council in the Vienna Senate |
| Since April 2016 | Party Chairman of the ÖVP Vienna |
| June to December 2017 | ÖVP media spokesman |
| December 2017 | Appointment as Federal Minister in the Federal Chancellery |
| Since 8 January 2018 | Responsibilities: EU, Arts, Culture and Media |
| Other: | |
| Member of the Catholic student fraternity KaV Norica Wien |
Source:
BKA - Bundeskanzleramt Österreich / Federal Chancellery of Austria