Former Austrian Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein, the only woman to hold the position, dies at 74

June 3 () –

Former Austrian Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein, the only woman to reach the Head of Government of the European country, died this Monday at the age of 74 after succumbing to a brief but serious illness.

This has been confirmed by the Constitutional Court of Austria in a statement, where it has expressed its condolences for the death of the person who was president and vice-president of the body until assuming the reins of the Chancellery in 2019.

Bierlein served as vice president of the Constitutional Court from 2003 to 2018, when she assumed the Presidency of the court, also becoming the first woman to lead the institution “with care and respect.”

Bierlein was proposed by the president of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, as chancellor in 2019 after the motion of no confidence that removed Sebastian Kurz, marred by a corruption case. She headed the Austrian government for just half a year until elections were held and a government formed by Kurz himself.

President Van der Bellen praised Bierlein as “a guardian of the Constitution and also as the first female chancellor”, and recalled that “she took responsibility when her country needed it.” “She will continue to be a model,” she has said on her social networks.

For his part, the current Austrian Prime Minister, Karl Nehammer, has highlighted that “in difficult times, she did not hesitate to assume responsibilities to serve the republic and the people of our country” and has asserted that Austria has “a great debt of gratitude” to Bierlein.