Faymann, Werner

Faymann, Werner,

1960–, Austrian politician, federal chancellor of Austria (2008–16), b. Vienna. A member of the Social Democrat party, he began his political career as chairman of Vienna Socialist Youth (1985–94); he also was a bank consultant (1985–88) and later directed a Viennese tenants' group. From 1994 Faymann was a member of the Viennese state parliament and municipal council and also served as city counselor for housing, construction, and urban renewal; he then was (2007–8) federal minister for transport, innovation, and technology. In 2008 Faymann became head of the Social Democratic party. After that year's parliamentary elections a left-right, Social Democratic–People's party coalition was formed, and Fayman was named chancellor. He remained chancellor when the coalition was continued after the 2013 elections. In 2016 he stepped down as chancellor and party leader after he faced some criticism from within his party for imposing restrictions on the number of asylum seekers Austria would accept and after both coalition parties' candidates failed to make the presidential runoff.