Herbert Haupt

Who is Herbert Haupt?

Herbert Haupt is an Austrian politician and former party chairman of the Austrian Freedom Party. Born in Seeboden, Carinthia, and a veterinarian by training, he was federal Minister of Social Services from 2000 till 2005 in a coalition government headed by Wolfgang Schüssel. Haupt was Vice Chancellor of Austria from February 28, 2003 till October 20, 2003.

He is still a member of the National Council of Austria, now representing the Alliance for the Future of Austria party founded by Jörg Haider in April 2005.

Haupt is notorious for his inability and/or unwillingness to answer journalists' questions precisely and to the point and for his tendency to use a complicated sentence structure with lots of empty phrases. Also, in the past he has frequently changed his mind from one day to the next about major policy issues, confirming, at least for the media, his role as Jörg Haider's puppet.

He stepped down as Minister of Social Services in January 2005 and was succeeded by Ursula Haubner, Jörg Haider's sister.