Honored Persons

Bruno Kreisky

Bruno Kreisky (born January 22, 1911 in Vienna, † July 29, 1990 also in Vienna) was a convinced social democrat and from 1970 to 1983 Chancellor of the Republic of Austria. As Federal Chancellor Kreisky formed Austria’s profile mainly in the 1970s through profound reforms. Much of what is self-evident today for a modern state exists in Austria thanks to Bruno Kreisky. The Social Democrats Willy Brandt in Germany and Olof Palme in Sweden were partly heads of state at the same time. Kreisky worked closely with both in the Socialist International movement. Bruno Kreisky had been involved early on in the Social Democratic and Socialist Party and had been sentenced to one year in 1936 in the "Socialist Trials". Shortly after the "Anschluss" of Austria to Nazi Germany in 1938, he had to emigrate to Sweden. After his return to Austria Kreisky became Secretary of State and Foreign Minister. In 1967 he took over the party presidency of the SPÖ. In the election on March 1, 1970, the SPÖ received 48.5% of the votes cast. As chancellor, Kreisky initially governed with a minority government tolerated by the right winged FPÖ. In 1971, 1975 and 1979 he reached absolute majority for the SPÖ. Kreisky's foreign policy received international attention. Kreisky, who was born into a Jewish family, was the first Western politician to make the PLO, then a terrorist organization, socially acceptable on the political stage. Kreisky's peace efforts in the Middle East process made a significant contribution to strengthening Austria's role in international politics.