Franz Vranitzky attended the Realgymnasium Geblergasse and studied economics, graduating in 1960.
18 Facts About Franz Vranitzky
2.
Franz Vranitzky financed his studies teaching Latin and English and as a construction worker.
3.
In 1962, Franz Vranitzky married Christine Christen, with whom he fathered two children.
4.
Franz Vranitzky began his career in 1961 at Siemens-Schuckert, but within the year switched to Austria's central bank Oesterreichische Nationalbank.
5.
Franz Vranitzky served as deputy director of the Creditanstalt-Bankverein, briefly as its director general and as director general of the Landerbank.
6.
In 1984, Franz Vranitzky joined the SPO-Freedom Party government coalition under Chancellor Fred Sinowatz as finance minister.
7.
Franz Vranitzky was criticized for receiving multiple compensations from his various functions in government-run businesses.
8.
Franz Vranitzky ended cooperation with his coalition partner and had parliament dissolved.
9.
In January 1987, Franz Vranitzky formed a government, based on a grand coalition with the second-largest party, the Christian democrat OVP, with Alois Mock serving as vice-chancellor and foreign minister.
10.
In 1988, Franz Vranitzky succeeded Fred Sinowatz as chairman of his party.
11.
Franz Vranitzky managed to normalise Austria's relations with both countries and frequently stepped in to perform diplomatic duties commonly assigned to the president.
12.
On 8 July 1991, in a speech in parliament, Franz Vranitzky acknowledged a share in the responsibility for the pain brought, not by Austria as a state, but by citizens of this country, upon other people and peoples", thereby departing from the hitherto official portrayal of Austria as "Hitler's first victim.
13.
Franz Vranitzky renewed the coalition with the OVP, which after May 1995 was led by foreign minister Wolfgang Schussel.
14.
In January 1997, Franz Vranitzky resigned as chancellor and as party chairman.
15.
Franz Vranitzky was succeeded in both positions by his minister of finance, Viktor Klima.
16.
Franz Vranitzky later occupied the same position for the tourism company TUI and Magic Life hotels.
17.
Franz Vranitzky actively supported his party's frontrunner Alfred Gusenbauer in the 2006 elections.
18.
Franz Vranitzky is a former member of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Group.