Thomas Klestil
Thomas Klestil | |
---|---|
President of Austria | |
In office 8 July 1992 – 6 July 2004 | |
Chancellor | Franz Vranitzky Viktor Klima Wolfgang Schüssel |
Preceded by | Kurt Waldheim |
Succeeded by | Heinz Fischer |
Personal details | |
Born | Multiple organ failure | 4 November 1932
Political party | People's Party |
Spouses | |
Alma mater | Vienna University of Economics and Business |
Signature | |
Thomas Klestil (German pronunciation: [ˈtoːmas ˈklɛstɪl] ⓘ; 4 November 1932 – 6 July 2004) was an Austrian diplomat and politician who served as president of Austria from 1992 until his death in 2004. He was elected in 1992 and re-elected into office in 1998.
Biography until 1992
Born in
Presidency
After being nominated by the conservative
Support of Kiryat Mattersdorf
Klestil gave his support to the development of
Personal life
Klestil met his future wife Edith Wielander (1932–2011) at the age of 17 in 1949. The marriage took place in 1957 and until the election as Austrian president in 1992, the couple had three children together. The couple separated in 1994, when Klestil made public that he had a love affair with diplomat Margot Löffler.[6] The couple divorced in September 1998, and Klestil married Löffler three months later.[7] When Klestil died in 2004, Wielander attended the funeral service.
Klestil suffered from health issues related to his lungs, including a serious illness in 1996.
Death and burial
On 5 July 2004, three days before he was to leave office, he suffered a heart attack or heart failure, probably caused by his long-term lung problems, and was left in critical condition. He died on 6 July at 23:33 local time at the AKH (Allgemeines Krankenhaus – General Hospital) in Vienna from multiple organ failure.[1]
On 10 July 2004, the funeral service was held in
Honours and awards
- Services to the Republic of Austria(20 December 1992)
- Italy : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 January 1993)
- Netherlands : Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (22 February 1994)
- Argentina : Grand Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín (1995)[9]
- Order of St. Michael and St. George
- Peru : Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru (1996)
- Norway : Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (8 April 1996)
- Royal Order of the Seraphim(5 February 1997)
- Spain : Knight of the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (8 July 1997)[10]
- France : Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (21 August 1998)
- Poland : Order of the White Eagle (23 September 1998)
- Ukraine : Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (13 October 1998)[11]
- Slovakia : Grand Cross (or 1st Class) of the Order of the White Double Cross (1 November 1998)[12]
- Romania : Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (22 January 1999)
- Croatia : Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav ("For outstanding contribution to the promotion of friendship and development co-operation between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Austria." – 2 March 2001)
- Thailand : Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Order of the White Elephant (MPCh) (2002)
- Grand Gold Medal with Star for services to the city of Vienna (3 October 2002)
- Algeria : Order of the Athir (13 March 2003)
- Portugal : Collar of the Order of Prince Henry[13]
References
- ^ a b c d "Thomas Klestil, 71, Austrian Who Redeemed the Presidency". The New York Times. 7 July 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
- ^ "Diplomatic Representation for Republic of Austria". U.S. Department of State. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
- ^ "Destroyed Jewish Community: Mattersdorf (Part 1)". Scholem and Friends. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- ^ Engel, Reinhard (5 February 1995). "Jerusalem rabbi visits Austria 'to create a bridge' to Vienna". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012. (subscription required)
- ISBN 3-7046-4757-8.
- ^ Ottaway, David B. (2 February 1994). "Blues on the Danube: A Modern Austrian Operetta in Three-Part Disharmony". The Washington Post. p. a.13. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ Staff writers (4 April 2011). "Ex-First Lady dies of cancer". Austrian Times. Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "Funeral held for Austrian leader". BBC News. 10 July 2004. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Decreto 772 / 1995". argentina.gob.ar (in Spanish). Government of Argentina.
- ^ BOE-A-1995-16657
- ^ "Про нагородження відзнакою Президента України "Орден князя Ярослава Мудрого"".
- ^ Slovak republic website, State honours Archived 13 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine : 1st Class received in 1998 (click on "Holders of the Order of the 1st Class White Double Cross" to see the holders' table)
- ^ "Tabella degli insigniti". Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.