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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6025
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 VIENNA 000144 
 
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TAGS: PGOV PREL AU
SUBJECT: Who's Who in the Gusenbauer Cabinet 
 
VIENNA 00000144  001.2 OF 006 
 
 
ZFR ZFR ZFR --- TELEGRAM WILL BE SENT UNDER NEW MRN 
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VIENNA 00000144  002.2 OF 006 
 
 
 
 
Vice-Chancellor/Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer (OVP) 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Wilhelm Molterer has primarily operated behind the scenes, 
closely working with former Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel to 
coordinate the OVP's parliamentary work and to pave the way toward 
implementation of the Schuessel government's projects.  Molterer now 
moves into the limelight, assuming not only the positions of 
Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister, but also that of acting OVP 
Party Chairman. At the April OVP party convention, delegates will 
most likely confirm him as Party Chairman.  However, many 
commentators point to Agriculture Minister Josef Proell as the OVP's 
most likely chancellor candidate for the 2010 elections. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Molterer was born May 14, 1955 in Steyr, Upper Austria. 
Molterer attended the Johannes Kepler University in Linz from 1974 
to 1980, graduating with a Master's Degree in Social Economics. 
While at the university he served as president of the student union. 
 Molterer worked as an assistant in the Agricultural Policy 
Department at the University of Linz from late 1979 until February 
¶1981. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Beginning March 1981, Molterer was head of the Economic 
Policy Division of the Austrian Farmers' Federation until the end of 
¶1984.  Beginning in January 1985, Molterer worked in the provincial 
government of Upper Austria and simultaneously as a municipal 
counselor in Sieming.  In January 1987 Molterer became chief adviser 
to then-Agriculture Minister Josef Riegler.  Molterer held the 
agricultural market organization portfolio, as well as trade and 
trade promotion.  In April 1989 he became Chief of Staff to the new 
Agriculture Minister, Franz Fischler. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Molterer served as Secretary General of the VVP from 
December 1993 to November 1994.  In November 1994, Molterer became 
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.  He relinquished this post in 
2003, when he assumed the position of OVP Parliamentary Floor 
Leader.  Molterer is well liked among his colleagues and comes 
across as a thoughtful, considerate politician.  He is married and 
has two sons. 
 
 
Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik (OVP) 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶12.  (SBU) Ursula Plassnik's career has been closely linked with OVP 
Parliamentary Leader and former Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.  She 
became his Chief of Staff in 1997, when Schuessel was Foreign 
Minister and Vice Chancellor.  Serving as Foreign Minister since 
2004, Plassnik has gradually crafted a profile as a professional and 
expert politician.  She was unarguably an asset for the OVP during 
the fall 2006 elections.  Despite a reputation as somewhat aloof, 
Plassnik has established close relationships with many of her 
foreign colleagues. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Plassnik was born on May 23, 1956 in Klagenfurt, 
Carinthia.  She was a high school exchange student in Foxcroft, 
Virginia in 1971-1972.  Plassnik holds a Doctorate in Law from the 
University of Vienna (1978), and earned a post-graduate diploma from 
the Collhge d'Europe in Bruges, Belgium.  After her studies, 
Plassnik initially worked as a research assistant at the University 
of Vienna's Institute for Roman Law and Ancient Legal History.  She 
then was an intern at a Vienna court, and had an internship in the 
legal department of a Vienna bank. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) Plassnik joined the Austrian foreign service in February 
¶1981. She initially served in the MFA's International Law Department 
and in the Directorates for Security Policy and the Commission for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).  Postings abroad included 
Bern (1984-86), the CSCE Delegation to the Madrid Follow-up Meeting 
(1981-83), the Vienna Follow-up Meeting (1986-87), and to the 
Austrian Representation to the Council of Europe (1987-90). 
 
¶15.  (SBU) During sabbatical leave from 1990-1994, Plassnik worked 
at the Geneva-based European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 
Secretariat.  In 1994, she studied at the St. Gallen Foundation for 
 
SIPDIS 
International Studies in Switzerland.  Plassnik rejoined the MFA in 
November 1994, working first in the Directorate-General for Economic 
Policy and EU Coordination, later as head of the Directorate for the 
General Affairs Council and the European Council. 
 
¶16. (SBU) Plassnik served as Wolfgang Schuessel's Chief of Staff 
from 1997-2003, a period when Schuessel transitioned from Vice 
Chancellor to Chancellor.  She then became Austrian Ambassador to 
Switzerland (January to October 2004), but curtailed when Schuessel 
selected her to be Minister of Foreign Affairs.  Plassnik is twice 
divorced. 
 
 
VIENNA 00000144  003.2 OF 006 
 
 
 
Defense Minister Norbert Darabos (SPO) - NEW 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶17.  (SBU) Darabos has acquired a reputation as an effective 
political operative within the SPO.  He successfully organized SPO 
campaigns, including the 2000 Burgenland state election and 
President Heinz Fischer's successful 2004 run.  Darabos was 
instrumental in helping Gusenbauer win the October 2006 elections 
despite a widely unfavorable political climate for the SPO and 
Gusenbauer.  Following the election, most analysts pegged Darabos to 
become Interior Minister. 
 
¶18.  (SBU) Darabos, with an ethnic Croatian background, was born May 
31, 1964 in the state of Burgenland.  He comes from a blue-collar 
family, attended a Catholic high school in Eisenstadt, and earned a 
Master's Degree in History and Political Science from the University 
of Vienna. 
 
¶19.  (SBU) Darabos' political career began as head of the Burgenland 
chapter of the SPO think tank "Renner Institute" in 1987.  From 1991 
to 1997 Darabos worked as office manager and press spokesman for the 
governor of Burgenland, and then as party manager of the Burgenland 
SPO.  From 2000 to 2003 Darabos was SPO party whip in the state 
parliament of Burgenland.  In 2003, Gusenbauer appointed Darabos 
national SPO Party Manager.  Since June 2004, Darabos has been a 
member of the federal parliament.  In the 1990s Darabos represented 
the SPO on the Viewers' Council of the ORF National Broadcasting 
Agency.  He was also a representative of the Croatian minority in 
the National Minorities Advisory Council. 
 
¶20. (SBU) Darabos is the first Austrian defense minister who chose 
to satisfy his compulsory service requirement through alternative 
community service in lieu of military service.  His hobbies are 
table tennis and soccer.  He is president of a local soccer club. 
Darabos is married and has two teen-age children.  His family still 
lives in his hometown of Kroatisch-Minihof, Burgenland. 
 
 
Interior Minister Guenther Platter (OVP) 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶21.  (SBU) Defense Minister in the outgoing government, Platter was 
born in Zams, Tyrol, on June 7, 1954.  He is a trained printer, but 
joined the police force after his military service (1973-1974) and 
subsequently served in the Tyrolean towns of Landeck and Imst, 
specializing in criminal investigation.  In 1986, Platter's 
political career began as a municipal councilor in his hometown of 
Zams, where he later served as mayor (1989-2000).  In 1994, Platter 
became an OVP parliamentarian.  In this function, he was a member of 
the Committees on both Internal and Defense Affairs, and also the 
National Defense Council. 
 
¶22. (SBU) In 2000, Platter became the Deputy Party Chairman of 
Tyrolean OVP.  He served as a minister in the state government of 
Tyrol responsible for sports, culture, schools, employees' 
interests, and immigration issues.  Since 2001, he has also been 
Chairman of the Tyrolean Employees' Association.  In February 2003, 
Platter joined the second Schuessel cabinet as Minister of Defense. 
Commentators have speculated that Platter is the heir-apparent to 
the Tyrolean Governor Herwig Van Staa.  Platter and his wife have 
two sons, aged 16 and 20. 
 
 
Minister of Economy and Labor Martin Bartenstein (OVP) 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶23.  (SBU) Martin Bartenstein has held ministerial positions since 
1996 when he became Environment Minister.  He became Minister of 
Economy and Labor in 2000.  Bartenstein was born on June 3, 1953, in 
Graz, Styria. He holds a Doctorate in Chemistry from the University 
of Graz. 
 
¶24.  (SBU) In 1978, Bartenstein joined his family's pharmaceutical 
company (Lannacher Heilmittel GmbH) and served as General Manager 
from 1980 until 1995. Bartenstein has also worked in the executive 
offices of Genericon Pharma GesmbH and Parmavit AG, Budapest. 
Bartenstein's political career began in 1991, when he became an OVP 
parliamentarian.  From 1994 to 1995, he served as Under Secretary in 
the Ministry of Public Economy and Transportation, and then 
subsequently as Minister of the Environment and Public Economy (1995 
- 1996).   From 1996 to 2000, Bartenstein was Minister of the 
Environment, Youth, and Family Affairs in the SPO-OVP government. 
In February 2000, he became Minister of Economy and Labor in the 
Schuessel-led OVP-FPO coalition.  Since 1992, Bartenstein has also 
served as Deputy Chairman of the Styrian OVP, and, since 1992, as 
President of "Austrian Children Cancer Aid."  He is married and has 
five children. 
 
 
VIENNA 00000144  004.2 OF 006 
 
 
 
Justice Minister Maria Berger (SPO) - NEW 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶25.  (SBU) Berger was born on August 19, 1959, in Upper Austria. 
She was head of the SPO youth organization "Young Generation," 
concentrating on justice issues.  As a Member of the European 
Parliament (MEP) since 1996, she served on the Justice Affairs 
Committee, and, most recently, as justice spokeswoman for the 
European Social Democrats.  Berger's academic career includes 
positions as Assistant Professor at Innsbruck University, and 
Vice-President of the Lower Austrian Danube University.  In her 
initial statements as Justice Minister, Berger stressed the need to 
take further measures to combat human trafficking, both at the 
European and the domestic level, and for more international 
cooperation to fight "crime tourism." 
 
 
Minister for Transportation and Infrastructure Werner Faymann (SPO) 
- NEW 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶26.  (SBU) Werner Faymann, previously the Vienna City Councilor for 
Housing Construction, was born on May 24, 1960.  He was, together 
with Gusenbauer, active in the SPO youth organization "Socialist 
Youth" in the 1980s.  He then shifted to Vienna city politics, and 
became a City Councilor in 1994.  Faymann has cultivated excellent 
contacts with the media.  He is married and has two children. 
 
 
Minister for Agriculture and Environment Josef Proell (OVP) 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶27.  (SBU) Many observers consider Josef Proell, the nephew of 
influential Lower Austrian Governor Erwin Proell, as the most 
obvious long term successor to Schuessel OVP leader.  Apart from his 
ministerial position, Proell has also taken on the task of 
"coalition coordinator" for the OVP vis-`-vis the SPO. 
 
¶28.  (SBU) Proell was born on September 14, 1968 in the Lower 
Austrian city of Stockerau.  Proell studied agricultural economics 
at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in 
Vienna from 1987-1993.  From 1993 to 1998, Proell worked at the 
regional Chamber of Agriculture in Lower Austria.  From 1998 to 
2000, he was in charge of economic policy at the Austrian Farmers' 
Federation.  During this period he also worked as a staffer to OVP 
MEP Agnes Schierhuber. 
¶29.  (SBU) From January 1999 to August 2000, Proell was Director of 
the Vienna chapter of the Austrian Farmers' Federation.  He 
subsequently became Chief of Staff for then Minister of Agriculture 
Wilhelm Molterer.  From December 2001 through February 2003, Proell 
served as Director of the Austrian Farmers' Federation.  In 
February 2003, Chancellor Schuessel appointed him Minister of 
Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management.  Proell is 
married and has three children. 
 
 
Minister for Health, Family and Youth Andrea Kdolsky (OVP) - NEW 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶30.  (SBU) Kdolsky, formerly a manager in the Lower Austrian 
Hospital Holding Company, is a newcomer to federal politics.  She 
was born on November 2, 1962 in Vienna.  Kdolsky studied Law and 
International Trade at Vienna University and the Vienna Business 
School respectively. In 1993 she obtained a Doctoral Degree from the 
Vienna Medical School.  Subsequently, Kdolsky attended a training 
program for hospital management and economics at the Vienna Business 
School. 
 
¶31.  (SBU) After a year of residence in 1995, Kdolsky began 
specializing in anesthesiology, intensive care medicine, and pain 
therapy at Vienna's General Hospital.  From 2001 to 2004 she was a 
senior physician at the respected Vienna University Clinic.  Having 
worked briefly as a Deputy Manager for the Federal Institute for 
International Education and Technology Transfer (BIB), Kdolsky in 
2005 moved to the Hospital Holding Company of the state of Lower 
Austria, moving up to the position of Manager for Medical Affairs in 
March 2006. 
 
 
Minister for Social Security, Generations and Consumer Protection 
Erwin Buchinger (SPO) - NEW 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶32.  (SBU) Political analysts had consistently considered Erwin 
Buchinger, formerly Salzburg State Councilor for Social Affairs, as 
the top SPO candidate for an economic or social affairs ministerial 
portfolio.  He is close to Salzburg Governor Gabi Burgstaller.  He 
served as a social affairs and labor expert to Burgstaller during 
 
VIENNA 00000144  005.2 OF 006 
 
 
her successful 2004 campaign, acquiring the nickname "Mr. Labor." 
Buchinger was born in 1955 in Mauthausen, Upper Austria, and holds a 
Doctorate in Law from the University of Linz, where he also studied 
macroeconomics.  From 1981 to 1991 Buchinger worked as a law expert 
in the Public Employment Agency of the state of Upper Austria. 
Subsequently, he became Director of the Employment Office in the 
state of Salzburg.  In 2004, Buchinger became a member of the 
Salzburg state government, where he was responsible for social and 
employment affairs.  Buchinger is married with two adult children. 
 
 
Science Minister Johannes Hahn (OVP) - NEW 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶33.  (SBU) Hahn is a representative of the OVP's liberal urban wing. 
 As Vienna OVP Party Chairman since 2003, he attempted to win 
voters' support for a more liberal agenda , e.g., calling for a more 
consideration of legalizing same-sex relations. 
 
¶34.  (SBU) Hahn was born on December 2, 1957, in Vienna. He holds a 
Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Vienna.  In the 
1980s, Hahn worked for the Association of Austrian Industrialists 
(1985 - 1987), the Economic Forum for Business Leaders (1987 - 
1989), and held various management positions in the partially 
government-owned VA Tech industrial group.  In the late 1990s Hahn 
worked for Novomatic AG, becoming company CEO in 2003. 
 
¶35.  (SBU) Hahn's political career includes positions as chairman of 
the OVP youth wing (1980-1985), Vienna Party Manager (1992 - 1997), 
and member of the Vienna Municipal Council since 1996.  In November 
2003 Hahn became a member of the Vienna state government, and in 
2005 OVP Party Chairman in Vienna.  He is married with one son. 
 
 
Minister for Education and Art Claudia Schmied (SPO) - NEW 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶36.  (SBU) Schmied was born on May 10, 1959.  The appointment of 
Schmied, a Viennese banker, surprised most political observers. 
Schmied has substantial knowledge of art and cultural matters 
through various positions on boards of the Salzburg Art Festival and 
the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, but virtually no experience with 
education matters. 
 
¶37.  (SBU) After obtaining a business degree, Schmied worked for the 
Investcredit Bank.  In 1997 she worked as an advisor to then SPO 
Finance Minister Rudolf Edlinger.  In 1999, she returned to 
Investcredit Bank, responsible for international affairs and 
expansion into Eastern Europe. 
 
 
Women's Issues Minister Doris Bures (SPO) - NEW 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶38.  (SBU) Bures was born on August 3, 1962.  She is one of 
Gusenbauer's closest longtime advisors.  She has been an SPO MP 
since 1990.  When Gusenbauer became Party Chairman in 2000, Bures 
moved into the position of SPO Party Manager.  Despite frequent 
criticism of her uninspiring media presence, she remained Party 
Manager until Gusenbauer asked her to take on the women's issues 
portfolio. The creation of a separate Women's Ministry was a key 
objective for the SPO.  Bures has a daughter. 
 
 
State Secretaries 
----------------- 
 
MFA State Secretary Hans Winkler (OVP) 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶39.  (SBU) Winkler assumed the position of MFA State Secretary in 
¶2005.  The GoA established this position primarily to prepare for 
and manage the Austrian EU Presidency in the first half of 2006. 
Winkler has become an important and well-respected adviser to 
Foreign Minister Plassnik, with special focus on EU matters. 
 
¶40.  (SBU) Winkler was born on January 13, 1945 in Vienna.  He 
earned a Doctorate in Law from the University of Vienna in 1968. 
Subsequently, he studied four years at the Diplomatic Academy in 
Vienna and entered the Austrian Foreign Service in 1970.  After two 
years in the MFA's Legal Office, Winkler served in Berlin from 1972 
to 1973.  From 1973 to 1978, he served in Washington, as well as in 
Belgrade and Cairo during much ofthe 1980s.  From 1987 to 1992, 
Winkler headed th MFA's International Law Office.  From 1992 to 
196, he was Austria's Permanent Representative to the Council of 
Europe in Strasbourg. He served as Had of the MFA's Americas 
Department from 1996 to1999, and subsequently the MFA's Legal 
Office. Dring 2002 to 2005, he also served as Deputy Secretry 
General in the MFA.  In July 2005, he was apponted State Secretary. 
 
VIENNA 00000144  006.2 OF 006 
 
 
 Winkler is  married and has one child. 
 
 
Finance Ministry State Secretary Christoph Matznetter (SPO) - NEW 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶41.  (SBU) Matznetter played an important role in the coalition 
talks on the budget.  As SPO spokesman on budget and finance policy, 
Matznetter has been a key figure in developing SPO budget policy 
positions.  He has been a close adviser of Gusenbauer for many 
years. 
 
¶42.  (SBU) Matznetter was born on June 8, 1959, in Vienna.  He 
studied political science, and then became a tax consultant. 
Between 1976 and 1980, Matznetter was on the Executive Board of the 
Socialist Youth, and in 2000 he became a member of the SPO Executive 
Board.  In 2002, he entered parliament and became SPO spokesman for 
financial and budget affairs.  Since June 2005, Matznetter has also 
been President of the Social Democrat's entrepreneurs' association. 
Matznetter is married with three children. 
 
 
State Secretary in the Federal Chancellery Heidrun Silhavy (SPO) - 
NEW 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶43.  (SBU) Heidrun Silhavy most recently served as the SPO's social 
affairs spokeswoman in parliament.  From a trade union background, 
Silhavy was born on May 20, 1956, in Graz, Styria.  She started 
working in the Styrian Chamber of Labor in 1976.  In 1981, she 
became Secretary General of the Styrian women's trade union.  In 
1994, she moved into the national legislature.  She has a son and 
two grandchildren. 
 
 
State Secretary in the Federal Chancellery for Sports Reinhold 
Lopatka (OVP) - NEW 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶44.  (SBU) In the October 2006 elections, Lopatka was the OVP 
campaign manager.  He led the successful OVP campaign in 2002, after 
which he became the OVP's Party Manager.  He was born on January 27, 
1960, in Vorau, Styria.  He obtained a degree in Law and Theology 
from Graz University, and then started work in OVP youth politics. 
In 1986, Lopatka entered the Styrian state legislature.  In 2000, he 
became OVP Floor Leader in the Styrian state legislature.  He was 
also Styrian OVP Party Manager from 1993 to 2001.  Lopatka is 
married and has three sons.  He is an avid marathon runner. 
 
 
State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy and Labor Christine Marek 
(OVP) - NEW 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶45.  (SBU) Christine Marek enters government with a low profile. 
With a trade union background, Marek will concentrate on labor 
market issues.  She was born on January 26, 1968, in Kempten, 
Germany and grew up in Upper Austria.  She worked for an IT company 
and became head of the company's work council.  Since May 2000, 
Marek has been on the executive board of the Vienna Chamber of 
Labor.  Marek is also Deputy Chairwoman of the Vienna OVP. 
 
 
State Secretary in the Infrastructure Ministry Christa Kranzl (SPO) 
- NEW 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶46. (SBU) Christa Kranzl, previously the Lower Austrian state 
Councilor for Social Affairs, was Gusenbauer's high school 
classmate.  In her position in the Lower Austrian state government, 
she covered schools, social administration and consumer protection. 
She was born on April 19, 1960.  She worked in the 
Persenbeug-Gottsdorf city administration from 1978 to 1991, and was 
a member of the city government from 1987 to 2005.  In 1999, she 
became Lower Austrian state Councilor for Social Affairs.  She is 
married and has two children. 
McCAW