Karl Svoboda (politician)

Karl Svoboda was born on 23 November 1929 in Vienna, Austria.[1] Svoboda was trained as a civil engineer.[2] In 1973, he joined the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), becoming active in his home district of Favoriten, where he served on its district council from 1978 to 1979.[2][3] In the 1979 Austrian legislative election, Svoboda was elected to the Municipal Council and Landtag of Vienna, representing Favoriten.[1] During his tenure, Svoboda primarily focused on issues of transportation, urban planning, and social policy.[3][4] In 1995, he was the Viennese representative to the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.[5] Svoboda left the Municipal Council/Landtag on 29 November 1996. Svoboda also served as chairman of the SPÖ in the Municipal Council/Landtag from 22 June 1988 until he left office in 1996.[1]

After leaving office, Svoboda remained socially involved. He was active in the Volkshilfe branch in Vienna, and helped found the Fortuna Park Palace at Altmannsdorf Castle in the Meidling district.[3] In 1998, he was also a member of an advisory committee for the Czech ethnic group to the National Council of Austria.[6] The following year, he was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold for Services to the State of Vienna for his services to the state.[1]

Svoboda died on 1 November 2022, at age 92.[2][3] Following his death, Michael Ludwig, the mayor of Vienna, stated that Svoboda was "a connecting force [who] steered the fortunes of the SPÖ municipal club for many years", while the Workers' Samaritan Federation of Austria stated that he was a "fighter for humanity and social justice, solidarity and cohesion".[4][7]