Austrian far-right party picks new leader
AFP
VIENNA - The leadership of the far-right Alliance for the Future of Austria has picked Josef Bucher as the new head of the party, whose leader died in a car crash last year, an official said Thursday.
Bucher, 43, was unanimously designated by party leaders and will be formally elected at a congress on April 26 in Linz, the party official said.
After party chief Joerg Haider died in an accident in October, Stefan Petzner became its new leader.
But Petzner stepped down one month later after he described Haider as "the man of my life," raising speculation of a gay relationship.
Herbert Scheibner was then named interim party chief until a new leader was picked.
Bucher, who is considered a pragmatist, headed the party's parliament group after legislative elections last year. The alliance won nearly 11 percent of votes in the polls, making it the fourth largest party with 21 seats.
An investigation into 58-year-old Haider's death has shown that the controversial politician, who was married, had drunk too much while at a gay club before getting behind the wheel and crashing early on October 11.
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But Petzner stepped down one month later after he described Haider as "the man of my life," raising speculation of a gay relationship.
Herbert Scheibner was then named interim party chief until a new leader was picked.
Bucher, who is considered a pragmatist, headed the party's parliament group after legislative elections last year. The alliance won nearly 11 percent of votes in the polls, making it the fourth largest party with 21 seats.
An investigation into 58-year-old Haider's death has shown that the controversial politician, who was married, had drunk too much while at a gay club before getting behind the wheel and crashing early on October 11.
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