Who is the New Austrian Finance Minister Gernot Blümel?

More+Work & Careers ♦ Published: January 7, 2020; 19:46 ♦ (Vindobona)

Following the inauguration of the new Austrian federal government, the reins of office were handed over to Gernot Blümel, as Eduard Müller symbolically handed over the historic keys of the Finance Ministry to the Ministry's new boss.

New Austrian Finance Minister Gernot Blümel "I am approaching my new role with humility, gratitude and awareness of the responsibility which I bear." / Picture: © Bundeskanzleramt (BKA) / Andy Wenzel

New Finance Minister Blümel thanked his predecessor for the work he had undertaken:

"I would like to thank Eduard Müller for his excellent work and cooperation over the past months, and I am glad in the knowledge that he will continue to act in a key supporting role within the Ministry."

Looking ahead to his future role, Blümel stressed the Austrian Finance Ministry's excellent reputation:

"I am approaching my new role with humility, gratitude and awareness of the responsibility which I bear.

I have come to know the Finance Ministry already from a number of different perspectives over the past few years.

When I worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I came to know the Ministry of Finance as a tough negotiating partner.

Following on from that, as government coordinator, I had the task of ensuring a balanced budget jointly with the then Finance Minister Hartwig Löger.

Back during my studies at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, I already came into contact with the Finance Ministry, writing my degree dissertation on the subject of "Project Management in the Civil Service", during the course of which I conducted a case study within the Finance Ministry involving a series of interviews."

Curriculum Vitae:
Date of Birth: October 24, 1981, Vienna
Education:
2000
Grammar school of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Unterwaltersdorf
2002-2009 Diploma in philosophy at the University of Vienna and the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon (Mag. phil.)

Studies at the Executive Academy of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (MBA)
Career History:
2006-2008 Parliamentary Assistant and then Assistant in the Office of the Second President of the National Council Dr Michael Spindelegger
2009-2011 Advisor at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs 
2011-2013 Council of Ministers Coordination in the Vice-Chancellor's Cabinet 
2013-2015 Secretary General and Media Spokesman of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP)
2015-2016 Executive Chairman of the Vienna ÖVP 
Political Mandates:
18.12.2017 – 08.01.2018 Federal Minister without portfolio 
08.01.2018 – 28.05.2019 Federal Minister for EU, Arts, Culture and Media in the Federal Chancellery 
28.05.2019 – 03.06.2019 Entrusted with the continuation of the administration in the Federal Ministry for EU, Art, Culture and Media in the Federal Chancellery 
23.10.2019 – 07.01.2020 Member of the National Council (XXVII. GP), ÖVP
Since January 7, 2020 Federal Minister of Finance
Political Functions:
Since 2006 International Secretary of the Young ÖVP 
2008-2010 Vice-President of the Young European People's Party
2013-2015 Secretary General of the Austrian People's Party 
2015-2017 City Council in the Vienna City Senate 
Since 2015 State party leader of the ÖVP Vienna 

Quelle: parlament.gv.at