Peter Westenthaler
Peter Westenthaler (born "Peter Hojač", 6 November 1967, Vienna) is an Austrian politician. He assumed his mother's maiden name Westenthaler instead of his former surname Hojač (Czech). A member of Jörg Haider's Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) up to the so-called "Knittelfeld Putsch" of 2002,[1] he then worked for Frank Stronach's Magna Steyr, and in June 2006 was elected chairman of the newly founded Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ).
Peter Westenthaler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of the Alliance for the Future | |
| In office 23 June 2006 – 30 August 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Jörg Haider |
| Succeeded by | Jörg Haider |
| Member of the National Council | |
| In office 30 October 2006 – 28 October 2013 | |
| Nominated by | Himself |
| Affiliation | Alliance for the Future |
| In office 29 October 1999 – 19 December 2002 | |
| Constituency | 9D – Vienna South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 November 1967 |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Political party | Alliance for the Future |
As leader of the BZÖ, Westenthaler was engaged in a heated dispute with FPÖ chairman Heinz-Christian Strache over which of the two political parties is the legal successor to the former FPÖ (the party before the split of 2005 which was a candidate at the 2002 Austrian legislative election).
On 30 August 2008, Peter Westenthaler was officially replaced as chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) by party founder Jörg Haider.
References
- Art, David. The Politics of the Nazi Past in Germany and Austria. New York, NY: Cambridge UP, 2006. 193.
