Michael Spindelegger is Vice Chancellor of Austria, Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Austrian People´s Party (ÖVP):
Born on 21 December 1959 close to Vienna, Austria, Michael Spindelegger went to Grammar School in Lower Austria and completed his officer´s training at the Austrian Military Service. After finishing his university degree as Doctor of Law Spindelegger was Assistant Lecturer for Criminal Law. In the late 1980ies Spindelegger became member of the cabinet of the Minister of Defence. A trainee program at the Federation of Austrian Industrialists allowed him to gain work experience in companies like Alcatel Austria, Siemens and the Austrian Power Industry followed by an Austrian bank.
He started his political career as member of the Federal Chamber in the Austrian Parliament in the early 90ies followed by a mandate in the National Assembly and subsequently becoming member of the European Parliament as well. He was his party´s speaker on Foreign Affairs and head of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs as well as head of the Austrian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 2006 Michael Spindelegger became Deputy Speaker of the Austrian Parliament which position he held until 2008 when he was asked to take over the position as Foreign Minister of Austria on 2 December. On 21 April 2011 Spindelegger was sworn in as Vice Chancellor of the Republic of Austria. He officially took over the party leadership of the Austrian People´s Party (ÖVP) in May of the same year.
Michael Spindelegger is married and has two sons.