Brigitte Bierlein
Brigitte Bierlein (German: [bʁiˈɡɪtə ˈbiːɐ̯laɪn]; born 25 June 1949) is an Austrian former jurist who served as president of the Constitutional Court before serving as chancellor of Austria from June 2019 until January 2020. An Independent, she was the first woman to hold either office.
Brigitte Bierlein | |
|---|---|
Bierlein in 2019 | |
| Chancellor of Austria | |
| In office 3 June 2019 – 7 January 2020 | |
| President | Alexander Van der Bellen |
| Vice-Chancellor | Clemens Jabloner |
| Preceded by | Sebastian Kurz |
| Succeeded by | Sebastian Kurz |
| President of the Constitutional Court | |
| In office 23 February 2018 – 3 June 2019 | |
| Vice President | Christoph Grabenwarter |
| Preceded by | Gerhart Holzinger |
| Succeeded by | Christoph Grabenwarter |
| Vice President of the Constitutional Court | |
| In office 1 January 2003 – 22 February 2018 | |
| President | Karl Korinek Gerhart Holzinger |
| Preceded by | Karl Korinek |
| Succeeded by | Christoph Grabenwarter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 June 1949 Vienna, Allied-occupied Austria |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | University of Vienna |
| Website | |
Bierlein served as the advocate general of the Procurator's Office – essentially the country's chief public prosecutor – from 1990 to 2002, as well as a member of the executive board of the International Association of Prosecutors from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, Bierlein was made a member and the vice president of the Constitutional Court.
Following the Ibiza affair, President Alexander Van der Bellen named Bierlein Chancellor of Austria, after a parliamentary motion of no confidence dismissed the first government of Sebastian Kurz, the first successful motion of no confidence in Austrian modern history. She was the first woman to assume the role and served until the next government led by Kurz was sworn in following the legislative election which took place on 29 September 2019.