Theodor Kery

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Theodor Kery ( Hungarian : Tivadar Kéry ) (born July 24, 1918 in Mannersdorf an der Rabnitz , Austria-Hungary ; † May 9, 2010 in Kobersdorf , Burgenland ) was an Austrian politician of the Social Democratic Party of Austria . He was the governor of Burgenland for many years (1966–1987).

Early years

Theodor Kery comes from a Christian conservative family in Burgenland, which at that time belonged to Hungary . His father Sándor Kéry, who came from the Hungarian nobility, was the municipal secretary in Mannersdorf. His brother was Otto Kery , a director and stage actor. Hungarian was spoken at home.

Kery attended the Burgenland lower secondary school in Mattersburg from 1928 to 1932 . First he began training as a teacher, but in 1939 he was drafted into the German armed forces. He was only able to return to Burgenland seven years later. Since he was a member of the SA , and in 1945 still became a member of the NSDAP , he was classified as a “minor offender” in the course of denazification .

Political career

At the age of 33, Theodor Kery entered the Burgenland state parliament for the SPÖ , and was elected its second president in 1960. Two years later he became a state councilor . After the resignation of Hans Bögl , he became governor in 1966 and remained so for a total of 21 years, longer than anyone else. His term of office was associated with an economic upswing and modernization in the once very backward and agrarian state. In the context of modernization, the Neusiedler-See-Brücke project was in the foreground in the 1970s, but it was not implemented. Theodor Kery won four elections during his reign. After losing the absolute majority in the state elections in 1987, he withdrew from active politics.

With his extremely long term of office and the upswing in the state during this time, Theodor Kery had a decisive influence on the office of Governor of Burgenland. In a large number of Burgenland municipalities, streets and squares were named after him during his lifetime.

The "three questions"

Especially in the last few years of his tenure, Kery was politically controversial. Opponents accused him of authoritarian leadership and a detached way of life. At the party convention of the SPÖ on October 28, 1982 Josef Cap , the then chairman of the Socialist Youth Austria , turned to Kery:

“ Is it true that you earn more than the Federal Chancellor? Is it true that, as the chairman of the supervisory board, you buy cheaper electricity from BEWAG [Burgenländische Elektrizitätswerke AG, note] ? Is it true that you shoot submachine guns in your spare time? "

This Caps speech went down in the political history of Austria as the “three questions”. The speaker was voted out of office from the SPÖ's executive committee immediately afterwards.

In a radio interview on October 30th, Kery finally answered these questions: 1. He earns about 95,000 shillings. 2. He gets cheaper electricity. 3. He has a shooting range in his basement where he practices sport shooting with a small bore rifle.

Waldheim affair

In 1993 Theodor Kery was fined for false testimony in the course of the Waldheim affair . Like all the other more than fifty members of the committee, he had denied that Fred Sinowatz had announced in 1985 in the SPÖ party executive that he wanted to draw the attention of the Austrian population to Waldheim's “ brown past” . The court had more faith in the statements of the recorder Ottilie Matysek .

Burgenland Foundation - Theodor Kery

On the occasion of Theodor Kery's 10th year of government, the Burgenland Theodor Kery Foundation was set up in April 1976 to promote science, research, art, culture, sport and social issues . Above all, the foundation aims to promote achievements that are important for the economy, reputation and people of Burgenland .

Theodor Kery's grave

Former governor Kery died on May 9, 2010 at the age of 92 and was buried in the Mattersburg cemetery.

literature

  • Johann Kriegler: Political manual of Burgenland. Volume 2: (1945–1995) (= Burgenland Research. 76). Burgenland State Archives, Eisenstadt 1996, ISBN 3-901517-07-3 .
  • Hans Werner Scheidl: The monarchs of the Second Republic. (= Provincial governors in portrait). Ueberreuter, Vienna 2002, ISBN 3-8000-3847-1 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Ex-Governor Theodor Kery died. In: derstandard.at . May 9, 2010, accessed August 20, 2020.
  2. ↑ "In the Journal zu Gast": Theodor Kery in conversation with Rudolf Nagiller , ORF-Mittagsjournal of October 30, 1982, recording online in the Austrian media library .
  3. ^ Burgenland Foundation - Theodor Kery.
  4. ^ Former governor Theodor Kery has died. In: orf.at . May 9, 2010, accessed August 20, 2020.
personal data
SURNAME Kery, Theodore
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian politician (SPÖ), member of the state parliament and governor of Burgenland
DATE OF BIRTH July 24, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Mannersdorf an der Rabnitz
DATE OF DEATH May 9, 2010
Place of death Kobersdorf