Heinz Fischer Biography

Heinz Fischer (German pronunciation: [haɪnts ˈfɪʃɐ] ( listen); born 9 October 1938) is an Austrian politician. He took office as 11th president of Austria on 8 July 2004 and was re-elected for a second and last term on 25 April 2010, leaving office on 8 July 2016. Fischer previously served as minister of science from 1983 to 1987 and as president of the National Council of Austria from 1990 to 2002. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), he suspended his party membership for the duration of his presidency.