2008 in Austria

none November 2023 Events from the year 2008 in Austria2008 Incumbents President: Heinz Fischer Chancellor: Alfred Gusenbauer (till December 2) Werner Faymann (from December 2) Governors Burgenland: Hans Niessl Carinthia: Jörg Haider (till October 11) Gerhard Dörfler (from October 11) Lower Austria: Erwin Pröll Salzburg: Gabi Burgstaller Styria: Franz Voves Tyrol: Herwig van Staa (till July 1) Günther Platter (from July 1) Upper Austria: Josef Pühringer Vienna: Michael Häupl Vorarlberg: Herbert Sausgruber Events March March 1 – Austria and other countries in Central Europe are hit by Cyclone Emma. Aside from property damage in the millions,ORF.at: http://www.orf.at/080303-22477/index.html Regierung sagt Soforthilfe zu 20080309123409 2018-12-02 01:23:38 InternetArchiveBot 3 March 2008. one woman was killed by a tree falling on her car.Sturm "Emma": Tod durch Baum vorhersehbarAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot ORF 22 March 2008, retrieved 29 January 2009. March 9 – 2008 Lower Austrian state election: The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) retained its majority and Erwin Pröll remains Governor of Lower Austria. The major opposition party, the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), suffered substantial losses. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) partially recovered from its 2003 losses, more than doubling its voteshare and tripling its number of seats.State of Lower Austria – Landtag election 2008 https://www.noe.gv.at/wahlen/L20081/Index.html Lower Austrian Government April April 26 – Fritzl Case: Elisabeth Fritzl and her children are released from their captivity, leading to the discovery of the crimes committed by her father Josef Fritzl. He had kept her imprisoned for 24 years in a hidden room of his basement, where he continually sexually abused and raped her, which resulted in the birth of seven children.6 May 2008 The Amstetten Horror House: 8,516 Days in Darkness Spiegel Online http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,551660,00.html live 6 May 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080508093047/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,551660,00.html 8 May 2008 June June 8 – 2008 Tyrolean state election: The governing parties Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) both lose about ten percent, while the newly founded Fritz Dinkhauser List takes second place with 18.4% of votes. The ÖVP (which had the most votes by far with over 40%) forms a coalition with the SPÖ and replaces Herwig van Staa with Günther Platter as new Governor of Tyrol.23 June 2008 Tyrol: Governor Van Staa resigns https://www.diepresse.com/393287/tirol-landeshauptmann-van-staa-zuruckgetreten Die Presse July July 7 – Vice-Chancellor, Finance Minister and Chair of the Austrian People's Party Wilhelm Molterer resigns from the governing grand coalition (led by the Social Democratic Party of Austria) and calls for re-elections.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7493842.stm BBC NEWS World Europe Austria ruling coalition crumbles News.bbc.co.uk 7 July 2008 26 November 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081219140519/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7493842.stm 19 December 2008 live August August 8 – Werner Faymann is elected as the new Chair of the Social Democratic Party of Austria.http://www.bka.gv.at/site/3332/default.aspx 20120621140009 Lebenslauf Werner Faymann. Website des BKA, retrieved 9 February 2013. September September 28 – 2008 Austrian legislative election: The governing parties Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) both experience their worst election results up to that point, due to common dissatisfaction with the grand coalition. Far-right parties Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) gain over six percentage points of votes each, but still remain behind the SPÖ and ÖVP.Pancevski Bojan 29 September 2008 Far Right storms election as Austrians back anti-EU rhetoric – Times Online http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4842863.ece dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111011071722/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4842863.ece 11 October 2011 26 November 2008 The Times London September 29 – Following the results of the legislative election Wilhelm Molterer steps down as Chair of the Austrian People's Party.ORF: Wechsel "möglichst rasch", 29 September 2008. October October 3 – Alexander Van der Bellen steps down as Spokesperson of The Greens and is provisionally replaced by Eva Glawischnig.Peter Mayr, Michael Völker: Alexander Van der Bellen tritt zurück – Glawischnig folgt nach. In: Der Standard, Printed 4/5 October 2008, retrieved 7 May 2016. October 11 – Jörg Haider, Chair of the Alliance for the Future of Austria, dies in a car crash near Köttmansdorf in the state of Carinthia.11 October 2008 Austrian far-right leader Haider dies in crash https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1011/breaking2.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20121107041614/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1011/breaking2.htm 7 November 2012 31 October 2008 The Irish Times "This is for us like the end of the world," said Mr Haider's spokesman, Stefan Petzner. He said Haider had been heading to a town near Klagenfurt in the mountainous southern province for a gathering of his family to mark his mother's 90th birthday. November November 23 – Despite their losses in the 2008 Austrian legislative election the previous ruling parties Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) agree to renew the grand coalition.2 December 2008 New Austrian government takes office http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/02/europe/EU-Austria-New-Government.php 11 March 2009 International Herald Tribune Associated Press November 29 – Josef Pröll is elected as the new Chair of the Austrian People's Party.Josef Pröll mit 89,6 % zum ÖVP-Chef gewählt, ORF NÖ, 28 November 2008. December December 2 – The new government, later known as First Faymann government, is officially sworn in. Werner Faymann (Chair of the Social Democratic Party) becomes Chancellor of Austria, while Josef Pröll (Chair of the Austrian People's Party) is declared Vice-Chancellor of Austria. Sports UEFA Euro 2008 Births Deaths January January 13 – Walter Zimper, 65, Austrian politician (b. 1942).13 January 2008 Walter Zimper gestorben http://noe.orf.at/stories/249244 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110706093708/http://noe.orf.at/stories/249244/ July 6, 2011 25 September 2017 ORF de January 14 – Vincenz Liechtenstein, 57, Austrian politician (b. 1950).14 January 2008 Vincenz Liechtenstein ist tot http://steiermark.orf.at/stories/249512/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110706093813/http://steiermark.orf.at/stories/249512/ July 6, 2011 23 January 2019 ORF de February February 6 – Kurt Nemetz, 81, Austrian Olympic cyclist (b. 1926).Kurt Nemetz https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ne/kurt-nemetz-1.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20200418063621/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ne/kurt-nemetz-1.html 18 April 2020 10 January 2019 Sports Reference February 10 – Peter Marginter, 73, Austrian author (b. 1934).17 February 2008 Peter Marginter 1934–2008 http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=3219845 10 January 2019 Der Standard de February 21 – Hans Janitschek, 73, Austrian journalist, heart attack (b. 1934).Williams Ian 4 March 2008 The man who erected an elephant: remembering Hans Janitschek https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/mar/04/themanwhoerectedanelephant 10 January 2019 The Guardian March March 17 – Claude Farell, 93, Austrian actress (b. 1918).27 March 2008 Monika Burg alias Claude Farell 89-jährig gestorben https://derstandard.at/3271879/Monika-Burg-alias-Claude-Farell--89-jaehrig-gestorben 31 December 2018 Der Standard de March 29 – Josef Mikl, 78, Austrian painter, cancer (1929).Masters Christopher 16 April 2008 Josef Mikl: Austrian abstract artist https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/apr/16/austria 31 December 2018 The Guardian April April 9 – Daniela Klemenschits, 25, Austrian tennis player, abdominal cancer (b. 1982).9 April 2008 Former Austrian tennis player Daniela Klemenschits dies of cancer at age 25 https://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20080409/ca_pr_on_te/obit_ten_klemenschits_1 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080414133023/https://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20080409/ca_pr_on_te/obit_ten_klemenschits_1 14 April 2008 13 December 2018 Yahoo! News April 28 – Hans Eder, 81, Austrian Olympic skier (b. 1927).Hans Eder https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ed/hans-eder-1.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110519211122/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ed/hans-eder-1.html 19 May 2011 13 December 2018 Sports Reference May May 7 – Gernot Zippe, 90, Austrian engineer (b. 1917).Bernstein Jeremy Jeremy Bernstein Nuclear Iran 2014 Harvard University Press 978-0-67441-708-3 54–75 Unintended Consequences 10.2307/j.ctt9qdtf0 j.ctt9qdtf0 May 27 – Ed Arno, 91, Austrian-American cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator and comics artist (b. 1916).The Times & The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/ 2022-03-25 The Times June June 7 – Horst Skoff, 39, Austrian tennis player, heart attack (b. 1968).10 June 2008 Tod im Hamburger Hinterhof http://derstandard.at/3369098/Tod-im-Hamburger-Hinterhof 22 November 2018 Der Standard de June 17 – Josef Pohnetal, 83, Austrian Olympic cyclist (b. 1925).Josef Pohnetal https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/josef-pohnetal-1.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20200418121335/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/josef-pohnetal-1.html 18 April 2020 22 November 2018 Sports Reference June 23 – Judith Holzmeister, 88, Austrian actress (b. 1920).23 June 2008 Judith Holzmeister dies at 88 http://austriantimes.at/index.php?id=7023-newentry dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110812015139/http://austriantimes.at/index.php?id=7023-newentry 12 August 2011 22 November 2018 Austrian Times August August 5 – Bruno Dallansky, 79, Austrian actor (b. 1928).Wilhelm Mario August 2008 Er war Oberinspektor Pfeiffer http://www.tatort-fundus.de/web/service/news/2008/august/bruno-dallansky-gestorben.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080911201833/http://www.tatort-fundus.de/web/service/news/2008/august/bruno-dallansky-gestorben.html 11 September 2008 26 October 2018 Tatort-Fundus de August 11 Günther Schifter, 84, Austrian journalist and radio presenter (b. 1923).11 August 2008 Günther "Howdy" Schifter ist tot http://www.kurier.at/kultur/189571.php dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080814210735/http://www.kurier.at/kultur/189571.php 14 August 2008 26 October 2018 Kurier de Fred Sinowatz, 79, Austrian politician, chancellor of Austria (1983–1986) (b. 1929).11 August 2008 Former Austrian chancellor Sinowatz dies https://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/225003,former-austrian-chancellor-sinowatz-dies.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110520072837/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/225003,former-austrian-chancellor-sinowatz-dies.html 20 May 2011 26 October 2018 Earth Times.org August 16 – Alfred Rainer, 20, Austrian Nordic combined skier, paragliding accident (b. 1987).Austrian skier Rainer dies after paragliding fall https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=skiing&id=3538272 live https://web.archive.org/web/20080925115616/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=skiing&id=3538272 25 September 2008 26 October 2018 ESPN October October 10 – Kurt Weinzierl, 77, Austrian actor (b. 1931).13 October 2008 Austrian actor Kurt Weinzierl dies at 77 years of age http://www.austriantimes.at/index.php?id%3D9087 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110531200905/http://www.austriantimes.at/index.php?id=9087 31 May 2011 1 November 2008 Austrian Times October 11 – Jörg Haider, 58, Austrian politician, Governor of Carinthia (1989–1991, since 1999), leader of the FPÖ and BZÖ, car accident (b. 1950).11 October 2008 Austria's Haider dies in accident https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7664846.stm 8 October 2018 BBC News October 24 – Helmut Zilk, 81, Austrian politician, Mayor of Vienna (1984–1994), heart failure (b. 1927).24 October 2008 Ex-Vienna mayor targeted by letter bomb dies at 81 http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE49N2BY20081024 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090111142833/http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE49N2BY20081024 January 11, 2009 8 October 2018 Reuters November November 26 – Edwin Ernest Salpeter, 83, Austrian-born American astrophysicist, leukemia (b. 1924).Lynden-Bell Donald Donald Lynden-Bell 5 March 2009 Professor Edwin Salpeter: Seminal astrophysicist who made pivotal contributions to the study of the universe https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/professor-edwin-salpeter-seminal-astrophysicist-who-made-pivotal-contributions-to-the-study-of-the-universe-1637579.html 3 October 2018 The Independent December December 26 – Eberhard Kneisl, 92, Austrian Olympic alpine skier (b. 1916).Eberhard Kneisl https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/kn/eberhard-kneisl-1.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20200418115109/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/kn/eberhard-kneisl-1.html 18 April 2020 22 September 2018 Sports Reference December 30 – Paul Hofmann, 96, Austrian writer, informant against the Nazis (b. 1912).Tagliabue John 1 January 2009 Paul Hofmann, Author and Foe of Nazis, Dies at 96 https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/world/europe/01hofmann.html 22 September 2018 The New York Times References Cellar father faces murder charge, BBC News. November 13, 2008. 2008 Category:Years in Austria Category:Years of the 21st century in Austria Austria Austria