Peter Westenthaler
Peter Westenthaler
 | |
|---|---|
| National Council | |
| Assumed office October 2006 | |
| Leader Bündnis Zukunft Österreich BZÖ | |
| In office June 2006 – August 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Jörg Haider |
| Succeeded by | Jörg Haider |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 November 1967 |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Political party | Bündnis Zukunft Österreich BZÖ |
Peter Westenthaler (born "Peter Hojač", November 6, 1967, Vienna) is an Austrian politician. He assumed his mother's maiden name, Westenthaler, instead of his former surname Hojač (Czech). A member of Jörg Haider's Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) up to the so-called "Knittelfeld Putsch" of 2002, he then worked for Frank Stronach's Magna Steyr, and in June 2006 was elected chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ).
As leader of the BZÖ, Westenthaler was engaged in a heated dispute with FPÖ chairman Heinz-Christian Strache over which of the two political parties is the legal successor to the former FPÖ (the party before the split of 2005 which was a candidate at the Austrian legislative election, 2002).
On August 30, 2008, Peter Westenthaler was officially replaced as chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) by party founder Jörg Haider after a verdict of guilty was found against him for perjury in a trial involving his former bodyguard. He is to appeal the judgement. Westenthaler remains a prominent Member of Parliament.
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