Norbert Hofer
Norbert Gerwald Hofer (German: [ˈnɔɐ̯bɐt ˈhoːfɐ]; born 2 March 1971) is an Austrian politician who served as Leader of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) from June 2019 to June 2021. He previously was Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology from 2017 to 2019 under Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
Norbert Hofer | |
|---|---|
Hofer in 2019 | |
| Third President of the National Council | |
| Assumed office 23 October 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Anneliese Kitzmüller |
| In office 29 October 2013 – 18 December 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Martin Graf |
| Succeeded by | Anneliese Kitzmüller |
| Chair of the Freedom Party | |
| In office 14 September 2019 – 1 June 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Heinz-Christian Strache |
| Succeeded by | Herbert Kickl |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 18 December 2017 – 22 May 2019 | |
| Chancellor | Sebastian Kurz |
| Preceded by | Jörg Leichtfried |
| Succeeded by | Valerie Hackl |
| Member of the National Council | |
| Assumed office 23 October 2019 | |
| Nominated by | Himself |
| Affiliation | Freedom Party |
| In office 24 May 2019 – 22 October 2019 | |
| Constituency | 1 – Burgenland |
| In office 28 October 2008 – 18 December 2017 | |
| Constituency | 1 – Burgenland |
| In office 30 October 2006 – 27 October 2008 | |
| Nominated by | Heinz-Christian Strache |
| Affiliation | Freedom Party |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Norbert Gerwald Hofer 2 March 1971 Vorau, Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Styria, Austria |
| Political party | Freedom Party |
| Spouse | Verena Malus |
| Children | 4 |
| Website | Parliament website |
Hofer served as Third President of the National Council from 2013 to 2017. He was his party's candidate in the 2016 presidential election. Hofer won the first round, receiving 35.1%, but was defeated by The Greens' candidate Alexander Van der Bellen, 53.8% against 46.2%, in the final runoff (an earlier runoff was invalidated).
He later served as Minister for Transport in the first Kurz government from 2017 to 2019. He became Leader of the Freedom Party in September 2019, after holding the office in an acting capacity from May to September 2019.
He stepped down as party leader in 2021 after losing a power struggle with Herbert Kickl.