Maria Theresia Fekter is an Austrian politician (

ÖVP The Austrian People's Party ( , ÖVP ) is a Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative political party in Austria. Since January 2025, the party has been led by Christian Stocker (as an acting leader). It is currently the second-largest p ...

) 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, following Günther Platter, who became the new

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

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

. 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 usual residents or where they do not possess nationality in order to settle as Permanent residency, permanent residents. Commuting, Commuter ...

and asylum 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 The Johannes Kepler University Linz (German: ''Johannes Kepler Universität Linz'', short: ''JKU'') is a public university in Austria. It is located in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria. It offers bachelor's, master's, diploma and doctoral degre ...

(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: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

) (1994–2007) *

Ombudsman An ombudsman ( , also ) is a government employee who investigates and tries to resolve complaints, usually through recommendations (binding or not) or mediation. They are usually appointed by the government or by parliament (often with a sign ...

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

Other activities

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival () is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer, for five weeks starting in late July, in Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart's operas are a focus of ...

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

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

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

(AfDB).

References