The website uses cookies: They are necessary for functionality and processed for the anonymous analysis of website use. Cookies for analysis purposes are set only with your consent. You can revoke your consent at any time. You can find more information in our Privacy Statement.

President & President's Conference

The Presidents of the National Council

At the beginning of a legislative period the National Council elects from its midst the President and the Second and Third Presidents. In political practice the three strongest parties in the National Council make proposals for the election of the Presidents, which are normally accepted by the plenary. In theory, however, every Member could be elected President.

As a body, the three Presidents represent the Federal President if s/he is prevented from exercising his/her duties for a prolonged period of time, in the case of his/her death or if s/he is deposed. Thus, at least formally, it is the Presidents of the National Council, not the Federal Chancellor, that hold the second highest rank in the State.

The President's Conference of the National Council

The President’s Conference is formed by the Presidents of the National Council and the chairpersons of the parliamentary groups. As a deliberative organ, it prepares proposals for the programme of work, the agendas, and times of National Council sittings and coordinates committee sittings. It plays a central role in parliamentary work as a mediator, particularly in conflicts concerning the interpretation and application of the Rules of Procedure.

President of the National Council, Dr Walter Rosenkranz

Dr Walter Rosenkranz was born in Krems an der Donau in 1962. After completing his school-leaving certificate at the Bundesgymnasium Krems in 1980, he devoted himself to studying the guitar at the University of Music and Performing Arts. At the same time, he began studying law at the University of Vienna, graduating in 1989 with a doctorate (Dr iur.).

Following his military service in 1990, he worked as a contract employee at the Federal Ministry of Defence. After holding further positions, such as Parliamentary Group lawyer and Provincial Party Secretary of the FPÖ Vienna, he served as a trainee solicitor from 1995 to 2000 before establishing himself as a solicitor and defence counsel in criminal cases. His political career began in 1988 as a Member of the Municipal Council of the Statutory City of Krems an der Donau – a post he held until 2017.

In 2008, he was elected to the National Council as the lead candidate for the FPÖ in Lower Austria, a position he held until 2019. During this time, he served as the FPÖ’s spokesperson on education, as well as Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader (2013–2017) and Parliamentary Group Leader (2017–2019) of the Freedom Party Parliamentary Group.

In 2019, he was sworn in as Ombudsman, a role he held until October 2024. In this role, he was particularly committed to upholding citizens’ rights and overseeing the administration. In 2022, he was nominated by his party as a candidate for the Federal Presidency.

Walter Rosenkranz is married and has one son.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Education

Responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the biographical data: Dr Walter Rosenkranz

Second President of the National Council, Peter Haubner

Peter Haubner was born in Salzburg in 1960 and passed his school-leaving examination in 1979. He subsequently completed his compulsory military service with the Austrian Armed Forces.

Haubner began his professional career as a customer advisor at Oberbank Salzburg (1979–1981). This was followed by positions in marketing and sales at Erste Allgemeine Versicherung (1981–1985) and at the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce (1985–1995). From 1995 to 1996, he was Managing Director of the advertising agency Grill & Gull. Between 1996 and 1998, Haubner was involved in the bid for the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2003 European Company Sports Games. In 1998, he founded Haubner & Haubner KG, a marketing agency; in 1999, he became an authorised signatory and Head of Marketing at Großglockner Hochalpenstraßen AG, a position he held until 2004.

From 2004–2005, he took over as Managing Director of the Salzburg People’s Party. 
From 2008 to 2017, he served as Secretary-General of the Austrian Economic Association, with a primary focus on representing the interests of entrepreneurs.

In 2001, he was elected to the National Council, where, as an ÖVP MP, he championed the concerns of the people of Salzburg and, in particular, the business community. From 2006 to 2018, he was Chair of the Salzburg City Economic Association. Haubner served as the ÖVP’s energy spokesperson from 2011 to 2013 and became the party’s economic spokesperson in 2011.

In 2013, he was elected Chair of the Economic Committee in Parliament, a position he held until 2024. From 2008 to 2024, Haubner was also Deputy Group Leader of the ÖVP.

In 2018, Haubner took on the role of legal adviser and Chair of the Board of the Austrian Cooperative Association.

On 24 October 2024, Parliament elected him as the Second President of the National Council. For him, respect and dialogue are the cornerstones of political cooperation.

Peter Haubner is married and the father of three children.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the biographical data: Peter Haubner

Third President of the National Council, Doris Bures

Doris Bures was born on 3 August 1962 in Vienna, the fourth of six children, and found her way into politics at a very young age through the anti-nuclear movement and the Austrian peace movement.

After training as a dental assistant, Bures joined the Federal Secretariat of the Socialist Youth of Austria in 1980. From 1985 to 1986, Bures oversaw a project for unemployed young people. From 1987, she worked at the Vienna Provincial Youth Office. Between 1988 and 1994, she served as Secretary of the Association of Socialist Municipal and District Representatives in Vienna. She then moved to the Austrian Tenants’ Association, where she initially served as General Secretary and, from 1997 to 2007, as President.

Bures took up her first political office in 1987 when she was elected as a district councillor in her home district of Vienna/Liesing, where she served as Deputy Chair of her party from 1995 to 2009. She has been Chair of the SPÖ Liesing since March 2009.

Doris Bures has many years of experience in the National Council: she served as a Member of the National Council for a total of 17 years – namely from November 1990 to January 2007 and from June to early December 2008. During this time, she was, among other roles, her party’s spokesperson on housing and Chair of the Parliamentary Construction Committee.

From 2000 to early January 2007 and from June to early December 2008, Doris Bures was also Federal Executive Director of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ).

Bures also held two ministerial posts: from January 2007 to June 2008, she was Federal Minister for Women’s Issues, Media and the Civil Service. From December 2008, she served as Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology for just under six years.

On 2 September 2014, Doris Bures was elected President of the National Council in order – as she emphasised in her inaugural speech – "to be a good, fair and non-partisan President for all Members of Parliament”. For the President of the National Council, Parliament is the place where the essence of democracy must be exemplified: "Namely, the passionate engagement with competing interests, convictions, goals and demands, but also the willingness and ability to compromise and to resolve conflicts peacefully.” Bures hopes for "an open, vibrant and productive Parliament, in which we paint a picture of politics of which all Austrians can be proud”.

Doris Bures has an adult daughter.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the biographical data: Doris Bures