Brigitte Bierlein

{{Short description|Chancellor of Austria from 2019 to 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Brigitte Bierlein | image = Brigitte Bierlein 2018 (coloured portrait crop).jpg | caption = Bierlein in 2018 | office = Chancellor of Austria | term_start = 3 June 2019 | term_end = 7 January 2020 | president = Alexander Van der Bellen | 1blankname = {{nowrap|Vice-Chancellor}} | 1namedata = Clemens Jabloner | predecessor = Sebastian Kurz | successor = Sebastian Kurz | office1 = President of the Constitutional Court | vice_president1 = Christoph Grabenwarter | term_start1 = 23 February 2018 | term_end1 = 3 June 2019 | predecessor1 = Gerhart Holzinger | successor1 = Christoph Grabenwarter | office2 = Vice President of the Constitutional Court | president2 = Karl Korinek<br>Gerhart Holzinger | term_start2 = 1 January 2003 | term_end2 = 22 February 2018 | predecessor2 = Karl Korinek | successor2 = Christoph Grabenwarter | birth_date = {{birth date|1949|06|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Vienna, Allied-occupied Austria | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|06|03|1949|06|25|df=y}} | death_place = Vienna, Austria | party = Independent | spouse = | children = | alma_mater = University of Vienna | website = {{plainlist| * {{URL|https://www.parlament.gv.at/WWER/PAD_05422/index.shtml|Parliament website}} * {{URL|https://www.vfgh.gv.at/verfassungsgerichtshof/verfassungsrichter/brigitte_bierlein.en.html|Constitutional Court}} }} }}

'''Brigitte Bierlein''' ({{IPA|de-AT|briˈɡɪtɛ ˈbiːɐ̯laɪn|lang}}; 25 June 1949 – 3 June 2024) was an Austrian jurist who served as President of the Constitutional Court from 2018 to 2019 and as Chancellor of Austria from 2019 to 2020. An independent, she was the first woman to hold either office.

Bierlein served as the advocate general of the Procurator's Office – essentially the country's chief public prosecutor – from 1990 to 2002, as well as a member of the executive board of the International Association of Prosecutors from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, Bierlein was made a member and the vice president of the Constitutional Court.

Following the Ibiza affair, President Alexander Van der Bellen named Bierlein Chancellor of Austria, after a parliamentary motion of no confidence dismissed the first government of Sebastian Kurz, the first successful motion of no confidence in Austrian modern history. She was the first woman to assume the role, and served until the next government led by Kurz was sworn in, following the legislative election which took place on 29 September 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/30/europe/austria-politics-brigitte-bierlein-intl/index.html|title=Austria names its first female chancellor|last=Said-Moorhouse|first=Lauren|date=30 May 2019|website=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530184311/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/30/europe/austria-politics-brigitte-bierlein-intl/index.html|archive-date=30 May 2019|url-status=live|access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref>

== Early life == Brigitte Bierlein was born on 25 June 1949 in Vienna during the Allied occupation of Austria.<ref name="vfgh">{{cite web | url = https://www.vfgh.gv.at/verfassungsgerichtshof/verfassungsrichter/brigitte_bierlein.en.html | title = Brigitte Bierlein | website = Austrian Constitutional Court | access-date = 13 May 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180514141330/https://www.vfgh.gv.at/verfassungsgerichtshof/verfassungsrichter/brigitte_bierlein.en.html | archive-date = 14 May 2018 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Her father was a civil servant. Her mother, trained as an artist, was a homemaker.<ref name="kz">{{cite web | url = https://www.kleinezeitung.at/politik/innenpolitik/5375484/Verfassungsgerichtshof_Erstmals-eine-Frau-an-der-Spitze-des | title = Erstmals eine Frau an der Spitze des Höchstgerichts | last1 = Jungwirth | first1 = Michael | last2 = Swoboda | first2 = Manuela | date = 21 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | website = Kleine Zeitung | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180514065459/https://www.kleinezeitung.at/politik/innenpolitik/5375484/Verfassungsgerichtshof_Erstmals-eine-Frau-an-der-Spitze-des | archive-date = 14 May 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref> She was educated at the Gymnasium Kundmanngasse, from which she graduated in 1967.<ref name="vfgh"/> Bierlein originally wanted to study either art or architecture and came close to joining the University of Applied Arts.<ref name="erste">{{cite web | url = https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5375450/Bierlein_Stets-die-Erste-jetzt-auch-im-Verfassungsgerichtshof | title = Bierlein: Stets die Erste – jetzt auch im Verfassungsgerichtshof | website = Die Presse | date = 21 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | last1 = Kommanda | first1 = Benedikt | last2 = Aichinger | first2 = Philipp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180222104915/https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5375450/Bierlein_Stets-die-Erste-jetzt-auch-im-Verfassungsgerichtshof | archive-date = 22 February 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref> However, she ultimately chose to study law instead.<ref name="kz"/><ref name="ooen1">{{cite web | url = http://www.nachrichten.at/nachrichten/meinung/menschen/Brigitte-Bierlein-Kunstsinnige-Spitzen-Juristin;art111731,2822509 | title = Brigitte Bierlein: Kunstsinnige Spitzen-Juristin | website = Oberösterreichische Nachrichten | date = 22 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | last = Prechtl | first = Elisabeth | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180514065156/http://www.nachrichten.at/nachrichten/meinung/menschen/Brigitte-Bierlein-Kunstsinnige-Spitzen-Juristin;art111731,2822509 | archive-date = 14 May 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="std">{{cite web | url = https://derstandard.at/2000074900457/Brigitte-Bierlein-Pionierin-an-der-Spitze-des-Hoechstgerichts | title = Brigitte Bierlein, Pionierin an der Spitze des Höchstgerichts | website = Der Standard | last = John | first = Gerald | date = 23 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180512112829/https://derstandard.at/2000074900457/Brigitte-Bierlein-Pionierin-an-der-Spitze-des-Hoechstgerichts | archive-date = 12 May 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref> Bierlein enrolled at the University of Vienna, receiving her doctorate of law in 1971.<ref name="vfgh"/>

== Judicial career == thumb|left|200px|Bierlein's official portrait as President of the Constitutional Court Bierlein served for four years as a candidate judge, before she was officially elevated to the judiciary in 1975. She spent the next two years presiding over trial courts, first the District Court Innere Stadt ({{langx|de|link=no|Bezirksgericht Innere Stadt Wien}}) and then the District Tribunal Vienna ({{lang|de|Strafbezirksgericht Wien}}), a criminal court that has since been dissolved.<ref name="vfgh"/>

In the former position, she mostly dealt with cases at tenancy law.<ref name="ooen1"/>

In 1977, Bierlein left the bench to join the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office ({{lang|de|Staatsanwaltschaft Wien}}). She was responsible for general and political criminal cases as well as for criminal cases pursuant to media law, a type of proceedings customarily handled by dedicated specialists in Austria. In 1986, Bierlein was promoted to the Vienna Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ({{lang|de|Oberstaatsanwaltschaft Wien}}). In 1987, she spent a few months working in the Department of Criminal Law in the Ministry of Justice, then returned to her position in the prosecution service.<ref name="vfgh"/>

In 1990, she was appointed advocate general of the Procurator's Office, the section of the prosecution service attached directly to the Supreme Court.<ref name="vfgh"/> She was the first woman to serve in this position.<ref name="erste"/>

The same year, Bierlein became a member of the board of examiners for judges and prosecutors at the Vienna Higher Regional Court, a position she would hold until 2010.<ref name="vfgh"/>

In 1995, Bierlein was appointed to the executive board of the Association of Austrian Prosecutors. From 2001 to 2003, she served as the association's president. Also from 2001 to 2003, she held a seat on the executive board of the International Association of Prosecutors.<ref name="vfgh"/>

In 2002, the first Schüssel government recommended Bierlein for appointment as vice president of the Constitutional Court. The move was not uncontroversial at the time. Bierlein had prosecuted crime with great fervor but had not distinguished herself as a legal scholar; she is in fact considered indifferent as a theorist to this day.<ref name="erste"/><ref name="std"/> Opposition politicians such as Josef Cap accused the government of passing over multiple more competent candidates in favor of a partisan pick. Bierlein supporters such as Maria Fekter countered that Bierlein's appointment would be an important step towards gender equality in Austria.<ref name="paradejuristin">{{cite web | url = https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5375743/Brigitte-Bierlein_Paradejuristin-wird-erste-Frau-an-VfGHSpitze | title = Brigitte Bierlein: Paradejuristin wird erste Frau an VfGH-Spitze | website = Die Presse | date = 21 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180514065200/https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5375743/Brigitte-Bierlein_Paradejuristin-wird-erste-Frau-an-VfGHSpitze | archive-date = 14 May 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="paradestd">{{cite web | url = https://derstandard.at/2000074710958/Paradejuristin-wird-erste-VfGH-Praesidentin | title = Paradejuristin wird erste VfGH-Präsidentin | website = Der Standard | date = 21 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180714080634/https://derstandard.at/2000074710958/Paradejuristin-wird-erste-VfGH-Praesidentin | archive-date = 14 July 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref>

Assenting to the cabinet's recommendation, President Thomas Klestil appointed Bierlein on 21 November 2002, the appointment to be effective 1 January 2003. Once again, Bierlein was the first woman to serve in the role she was being elevated to.<ref name="paradejuristin"/><ref name="paradestd"/><ref>{{cite book| last=Heller| first=Kurt| title=Der Verfassungsgerichtshof. Die Entwicklung der Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit in Österreich von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart| publisher=Verlag Österreich| place=Vienna |date=2010| pages=492–495, 626}}</ref> In fact, there had been no women at all on the Constitutional Court until 1995.<ref name="kz"/><ref name="nein">{{cite web |url=https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/529963/Hoechstrichterin_Nein-zu-Frauenquoten |title=Höchstrichterin: Nein zu Frauenquoten |website=Die Presse |date=27 December 2009 |access-date=13 May 2018 |last=Aichinger |first=Philipp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514065533/https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/529963/Hoechstrichterin_Nein-zu-Frauenquoten |archive-date=14 May 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Bierlein took over from the president of the court, Gerhart Holzinger, when he retired from the bench effective 31 December 2017.<ref name="interim">{{cite web | url = https://www.vfgh.gv.at/medien/Vizepraesidentin_Bierlein_uebernimmt_Leitung_des_VfGH.de.php | title = Vizepräsidentin Brigitte Bierlein übernimmt interimistisch Leitung des Verfassungsgerichtshofes | website = Austrian Constitutional Court | date = 1 January 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044853/https://www.vfgh.gv.at/medien/Vizepraesidentin_Bierlein_uebernimmt_Leitung_des_VfGH.de.php | archive-date = 11 September 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref>

On the initiative of the Freedom Party, the right-of-center first Kurz government moved to turn her interim position into a permanent one.<ref name="tt">{{cite web | url = http://www.tt.com/politik/innenpolitik/14041661-91/bierlein-wird-vfgh-pr%C3%A4sidentin-brandstetter-r%C3%BCckt-nach.csp | title = Bierlein wird VfGH-Präsidentin, Brandstetter rückt nach | website = Tiroler Tageszeitung | date = 21 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180223021353/http://www.tt.com/politik/innenpolitik/14041661-91/bierlein-wird-vfgh-pr%C3%A4sidentin-brandstetter-r%C3%BCckt-nach.csp | archive-date = 23 February 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="apa">{{cite web | url = https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5375730/ | title = Bierlein wird VfGH-Präsidentin, Brandstetter rückt nach | website = Die Presse | date = 21 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180728040222/https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5375730/ | archive-date = 28 July 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref> President Alexander Van der Bellen confirmed Bierlein as the new president of the Constitutional Court on 23 February 2018.<ref name="bellen">{{cite web | url = https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5377261/Neues-VfGHPraesidium-von-Van-der-Bellen-angelobt | title = Neues VfGH-Präsidium von Van der Bellen angelobt | date = 23 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | website = Die Presse | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180615191036/https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5377261/Neues-VfGHPraesidium-von-Van-der-Bellen-angelobt | archive-date = 15 June 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref> Bierlein's previous role as vice president passed on to Supreme Court justice Christoph Grabenwarter. Wolfgang Brandstetter, who had formerly been vice chancellor and minister of justice on a People's Party ticket, was appointed to fill the vacancy of the Court.<ref name="tt"/><ref name="apa"/>

Bierlein reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2019.<ref name="tt"/><ref name="apa"/>

== Chancellor of Austria (2019–2020) == thumb|Bierlien being inaugurated as Chancellor, 3 June 2019 [[File:Europaforum Wachau-2019 1192.JPG|thumb|right|Bierlein at the 2019 Europa-Forum Wachau]]

Bierlein had no political affiliation.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Sam |date=30 May 2019 |title=Brigitte Bierlein appointed interim Austrian chancellor |language=en-GB |website=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b0cef5e8-82e8-11e9-b592-5fe435b57a3b |url-status=live |access-date=30 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530195439/https://www.ft.com/content/b0cef5e8-82e8-11e9-b592-5fe435b57a3b |archive-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> She was seen as solidly right of centre. During her time as a prosecutor, she was noted for her hardline tough-on-crime stance, although her years on the bench have earned her a reputation for civility and for working well with ideological opponents.<ref name="std"/><ref name="erste"/> Commentators from both sides of the political spectrum noted Bierlein's close ties to both People's Party and Freedom Party, as well as the fact that her career owed both its unexpected major breaks to right-of-centre coalition governments.<ref name="std"/><ref name="paradejuristin"/><ref name="ooen1"/><ref name="partei">{{cite web | url = http://www.nachrichten.at/nachrichten/politik/innenpolitik/VfGH-Praesidentin-Bierlein-Ich-war-nie-bei-einer-politischen-Partei;art385,2825474 | title = VfGH-Präsidentin Bierlein: "Ich war nie bei einer politischen Partei" | date = 26 February 2018 | access-date = 13 May 2018 | website = Oberösterreichische Nachrichten | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180514065333/http://www.nachrichten.at/nachrichten/politik/innenpolitik/VfGH-Praesidentin-Bierlein-Ich-war-nie-bei-einer-politischen-Partei;art385,2825474 | archive-date = 14 May 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref>

Bierlein herself acknowledged both her toughness as a prosecutor and her socially conservative bent in general.<ref name="erste"/> In response to doubts about her ability to remain above the fray as a Constitutional Court justice, she claimed to be as committed to impartiality as any other professional judge and also pointed out that she had never actually joined any party.<ref name="partei"/>

After the first Kurz government lost a parliamentary vote of no-confidence on 27 May 2019 following the Ibiza affair, Alexander Van der Bellen, the president of Austria, named Bierlein as Kurz's successor.<ref name=":0" /> She became the first female chancellor of Austria and was in office until the next government was formed following the National Council elections on 29 September 2019.<ref name=":0" /> Bierlein's appointment was agreed with all political parties in the National Council.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48457549|title=Austria gets first woman chancellor after scandal|date=30 May 2019|work=BBC|access-date=31 May 2019|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531045653/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48457549|archive-date=31 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Personal life == Bierlein was unmarried and had no children.<ref name="kz"/><ref name="paradejuristin"/> Her long-time partner was Ernest Maurer, a retired judge, who died in 2021.<ref name="oe24.at">{{cite web|url=https://www.oe24.at/oesterreich/politik/Umstrittener-Ex-Richter-Der-Mann-an-Bierleins-Seite/382719401/print|title=Der Mann an Bierleins Seite – Ausdrucken – Österreich / oe24.at|website=www.oe24.at|access-date=2 June 2019|archive-date=2 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602045018/https://www.oe24.at/oesterreich/politik/Umstrittener-Ex-Richter-Der-Mann-an-Bierleins-Seite/382719401/print|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ooen1"/><ref name="paradejuristin"/> Bierlein was a supporter of the arts. She owned contemporary paintings, although she did not consider herself a collector.<ref name="kz" /><ref name="ooen1" />  She enjoyed skiing and sailing.<ref name="paradejuristin" /><ref name="paradestd" /> In June 2020, Bierlein was pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. She was forced to surrender her driver's licence for four weeks and issued an apology afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meinbezirk.at/c-lokales/ex-kanzlerin-bierlein-wurde-fuehrerschein-abgenommen_a4110987|title=0,8 Promille: Ex-Kanzlerin Bierlein wurde Führerschein abgenommen|date=18 June 2020 |access-date=1 July 2020|archive-date=19 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719032251/https://www.meinbezirk.at/c-lokales/ex-kanzlerin-bierlein-wurde-fuehrerschein-abgenommen_a4110987|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bierlein died following a brief illness on 3 June 2024, 22 days short of her 75th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-Bundeskanzlerin Brigitte Bierlein gestorben |url=https://orf.at/stories/3359553/ |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=3 June 2024 |website=ORF.at |language=de |archive-date=3 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603145529/https://orf.at/stories/3359553/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=3 June 2024 |title=Brigitte Bierlein, Austria's first woman chancellor, dies at 74 |url=https://apnews.com/article/austria-chancellor-bierlein-dead-6ac5fceb54069120b01f74e171381799 |work=Associated Press |access-date=3 June 2024 |archive-date=3 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603154142/https://apnews.com/article/austria-chancellor-bierlein-dead-6ac5fceb54069120b01f74e171381799 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Honours ==

=== Austrian honours === * 60x60px Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver with Sash of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (2005)<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXIV/AB/AB_10542/imfname_251156.pdf | title = Anfragebeantwortung | access-date = 15 May 2018 | website = Austrian Parliament | date = 23 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171108060130/https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXIV/AB/AB_10542/imfname_251156.pdf | archive-date = 8 November 2017 | url-status = live }}</ref> * 60x60px Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Sash of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (2021)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=3 June 2024 |title=Bundeskanzler Nehammer "zutiefst erschüttert" über Ableben von Brigitte Bierlein – Bundeskanzleramt Österreich |url=https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/bundeskanzleramt/nachrichten-der-bundesregierung/2024/06/bundeskanzler-nehammer-zutiefst-erschuettert-ueber-ableben-von-brigitte-bierlein.html |access-date=4 June 2024 |website=www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at |language=de |archive-date=4 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604085105/https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/bundeskanzleramt/nachrichten-der-bundesregierung/2024/06/bundeskanzler-nehammer-zutiefst-erschuettert-ueber-ableben-von-brigitte-bierlein.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Foreign honours === * 60x60px Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2020)<ref name=":1" /> * 60x60px Great Cross of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2022)<ref name=":1" />

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * [https://www.vfgh.gv.at/verfassungsgerichtshof/geschichte/brigitte_bierlein.en.html Brigitte BIERLEIN] at the Constitutional Court homepage

{{s-start}} {{s-legal}} {{s-bef|before=Karl Korinek}} {{s-ttl|title=Vice President of the Constitutional Court|years=2003–2018}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=Christoph Grabenwarter}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Gerhart Holzinger}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the Constitutional Court|years=2018–2019}} {{s-break}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Sebastian Kurz}} {{s-ttl|title=Chancellor of Austria|years=2019–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Sebastian Kurz}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bierlein, Brigitte}} Category:1949 births Category:2024 deaths Category:20th-century Austrian women Category:21st-century Austrian women politicians Category:21st-century chancellors of Austria Category:Austrian jurists Category:Austrian prosecutors Category:Austrian women judges Category:Constitutional court women judges Category:Female heads of government Category:Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Category:Politicians from Vienna Category:Presidents of the Constitutional Court of Austria Category:University of Vienna alumni Category:Vice presidents of the Constitutional Court of Austria