Karin Gastinger
Encyclopedia
Karin Gastinger is an Austria
n politician. She was Federal Minister of Justice
in the coalition government led by Wolfgang Schüssel
which served from June 2004 to January 2007.
She was born Karin Miklautsch in Graz
, Styria
, and, after graduating from law school, became a lawyer with the Carinthian
government, where she was appointed head of the Department of Water Law
in 1999.
In the autumn of 2004, still unknown to most Austrians, Gastinger was nominated by Jörg Haider
, the governor of Carinthia, and his Freedom Party of Austria
(FPÖ), as successor to Dieter Böhmdorfer, the Minister of Justice who had just stepped down. Gastinger had never been a member of the Freedom Party, and she remained parteifrei on being sworn in as Federal Minister of Justice. During her term of office, Gastinger gained quite a lot of recognition as a competent politician despite her initial inexperience.
When, in April 2005, Haider split from the FPÖ and formed the Alliance for the Future of Austria
(BZÖ), Gastinger eventually became a member of the newly formed party. During the election campaign leading up to the parliamentary elections
to be held on October 1, 2006, she was Spitzenkandidatin (top of the list) of Styria for the BZÖ. However, on September 25, only six days before the election, she announced her defection from the BZÖ.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n politician. She was Federal Minister of Justice
Justice Minister
A justice ministry is a ministry or other government agency charged with justice. The ministry is often headed by a minister for justice or secretary of justice or secretary for justice; sometimes the head of a department of justice is entitled attorney general.Specific duties may relate to...
in the coalition government led by Wolfgang Schüssel
Wolfgang Schüssel
Wolfgang Schüssel is an Austrian People's Party politician. He was Chancellor of Austria for two consecutive terms from February 2000 to January 2007...
which served from June 2004 to January 2007.
She was born Karin Miklautsch in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
, Styria
Styria (state)
Styria is a state or Bundesland, located in the southeast of Austria. In area it is the second largest of the nine Austrian federated states, covering 16,401 km². It borders Slovenia as well as the other Austrian states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland, and Carinthia. ...
, and, after graduating from law school, became a lawyer with the Carinthian
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
government, where she was appointed head of the Department of Water Law
Water law
Water law is the field of law dealing with the ownership, control, and use of water as a resource. It is most closely related to property law, but has also become influenced by environmental law...
in 1999.
In the autumn of 2004, still unknown to most Austrians, Gastinger was nominated by Jörg Haider
Jörg Haider
Jörg Haider was an Austrian politician. He was Governor of Carinthia on two occasions, the long-time leader of the Austrian Freedom Party and later Chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Austria , a breakaway party from the FPÖ.Haider was controversial within Austria and abroad for comments...
, the governor of Carinthia, and his Freedom Party of Austria
Freedom Party of Austria
The Freedom Party of Austria is a political party in Austria. Ideologically, the party is a direct descendant of the German national liberal camp, which dates back to the 1848 revolutions. The FPÖ itself was founded in 1956 as the successor to the short-lived Federation of Independents , which had...
(FPÖ), as successor to Dieter Böhmdorfer, the Minister of Justice who had just stepped down. Gastinger had never been a member of the Freedom Party, and she remained parteifrei on being sworn in as Federal Minister of Justice. During her term of office, Gastinger gained quite a lot of recognition as a competent politician despite her initial inexperience.
When, in April 2005, Haider split from the FPÖ and formed the Alliance for the Future of Austria
Alliance for the Future of Austria
The Alliance for the Future of Austria , abbreviated to BZÖ, is a conservative liberal political party in Austria. The party has sixteen seats in the National Council....
(BZÖ), Gastinger eventually became a member of the newly formed party. During the election campaign leading up to the parliamentary elections
Austrian legislative election, 2006
The 2006 general election for the National Council in Austria was held on 1 October 2006.Following the Austrian legislative election, 1999, the Austrian People's Party had formed a coalition government with the Austrian Freedom Party , and later the Alliance for the Future of Austria .As a result...
to be held on October 1, 2006, she was Spitzenkandidatin (top of the list) of Styria for the BZÖ. However, on September 25, only six days before the election, she announced her defection from the BZÖ.