Maria Theresia Fekter is an Austrian politician (

ÖVP The Austrian People's Party (german: Österreichische Volkspartei , ÖVP ) is a Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative political party in Austria. Since December 2021, the party has been led provisionally by Karl Nehammer. It is currentl ...

) and was the Austrian Minister of Finance between 2011 and 2013. Before that, she was Minister of the Interior. On 27 June 2008, it was announced by her party that she was to be appointed as the new Interior Minister in the

Gusenbauer cabinet The Gusenbauer government (german: Bundesregierung Gusenbauer) was sworn in on 11 January 2007 and left office on 2 December 2008. Composition The cabinet was a coalition between the Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Part ...

, following Günther Platter, who became the new

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Tyrol Tyrol (; historically the Tyrole; de-AT, Tirol ; it, Tirolo) is a historical region in the Alps - in Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Emp ...

. During her career as Interior Minister, she became known as a hardliner, especially when it came to

immigration Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, a ...

and

asylum Asylum may refer to: Types of asylum * Asylum (antiquity), places of refuge in ancient Greece and Rome * Benevolent Asylum, a 19th-century Australian institution for housing the destitute * Cities of Refuge, places of refuge in ancient Judea ...

policies, earning her the unofficial title of an Austrian "Iron Lady". Because her family made a fortune producing gravel Fekter is often referred to as "Schottermitzi" (roughly translates to "Gravel Mary"; 'Mitzi' is the colloquial nickname form of Mary in Viennese dialect).

Career

* Doctor of Law, Johannes Kepler University Linz (1979) * Magistra rerum socialium oeconomicarumque, Johannes Kepler University Linz (1982) * Engagement in her parents' gravel pit and carrying business (1982—), managing partner (1986—) * Municipal councillor in Attnang-Puchheim (1986–1990) * Member of the executive committee (''Präsidium'') of the Österreichischer Wirtschaftsbund (entrepreneurs' organization of the Austrian People's Party) (1990–2002) * State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs (1990–1994) * Member of the National Council (

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...

) (1994–2007) * Ombudsman (''Volksanwältin'') (2007–2008) * Federal Minister of the Interior (2008–2011) * Minister of Finance (2011–2013)

Other activities

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival (german: Salzburger Festspiele) is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer (for five weeks starting in late July) in the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Ama ...

, member of the board of trustees (since 2013) *

African Development Bank The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) or (BAD) is a multilateral development finance institution headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, since September 2014. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and private companies ...

, member of the board of governors (2011–2013)AfDB Annual Report 2011

(AfDB).

References

, - 1956 births Living people Austrian People's Party politicians Finance Ministers of Austria Interior Ministers of Austria Johannes Kepler University Linz alumni Members of the National Council (Austria) Ombudsmen in Austria People from Vöcklabruck District Female finance ministers Women government ministers of Austria Female interior ministers 20th-century Austrian women politicians 20th-century Austrian politicians 21st-century Austrian women politicians 21st-century Austrian politicians {{Austria-politician-stub