“The President Expected by the People is a National Representative Beyond Partisan Politics”

Original article from Asia Economy, Published on February 25, 2025, 09:37

Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Constitutional Amendments:

• Austria adopts a dual executive system, leaning towards a parliamentary system
• “Maintaining political stability and a nonpartisan stance is crucial”
• Separation of powers is a key principle in European democratic nations

Editor’s note: The Constitution of the Republic of Korea serves as the foundation of the state and the standard for its citizens’ lives. The ‘1987 system,’ symbolizing the last constitutional amendment, is now facing demands for change. Considering the transformations of nearly 40 years, Korea needs new standards to reshape its present and future. To lawmakers and political scientists, constitutional amendment is seen as an inevitable task of the era. The ‘social turbulence’ triggered by martial law ironically fueled the momentum for constitutional revision. Across political parties and throughout society, constitutional reform has emerged as a major topic. By drawing insights from former presidents of European countries that have undergone constitutional revisions, as well as from political and economic scholars in the U.S. and Japan, the President of the Korean Constitutional Law Association, and a former governor of the Bank of Korea, this series aims to analyze the era of grand transformation and outline a constitutional blueprint suitable for Korean society.

“The Austrian people expect their president to transcend partisan politics and serve as a representative of the entire nation. As the head of state, the president plays a diplomatic role, maintains political stability, and adopts a nonpartisan stance.”

In a written interview with Asia Economy on the 25th, former Austrian President Heinz Fischer shared his views when asked about the qualities necessary to become a respected president. Fischer served as Austria’s 11th president from 2004 to 2016. He studied law and served as the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) for eight years from 1975. Additionally, he held key roles in both government and parliament, including Minister of Science and Speaker of the National Council.

Austria, which was once a monarchy, experienced a period of turmoil after its defeat in World War I. When the republic was established in 1918, Austria did not initially have a president; instead, the Speaker of the National Council performed the role of head of state with very limited powers. The 1920 Constitution introduced the position of the federal president. Then, a 1929 constitutional amendment introduced the direct election of the president and expanded presidential powers, including the right to dissolve parliament. However, Austrian presidents have generally refrained from exercising their powers extensively, instead acting as political mediators.

A distinguishing feature of Austria’s system is the balance of power between the president and the chancellor. While the president is elected by popular vote, the country operates primarily under a parliamentary democracy. This arrangement is rooted in Austria’s historical experience under the Habsburg monarchy, which ruled for 600 years. The Austrian people harbor both nostalgia for and aversion to absolute monarchy, shaping their constitutional framework.

Fischer also has strong ties to Korea. He was the first Austrian president to visit Korea after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations in 1963. He attended the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and the 2019 Jeju Forum. Since 2018, he has served as co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens in Vienna, working alongside former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to advocate for climate crisis mitigation, poverty eradication, and other global issues.

Fischer is widely respected for his humility and commitment to cooperation. His approach to politics is a key reason why he is regarded as one of Austria’s most respected politicians. In the 2004 presidential election, he won with 51.5% of the vote. During his tenure, he received high public approval ratings, leading to his re-election in 2010 with a landslide 79.4% of the vote.

Fischer stated, “In Austria, the president does not intervene in partisan politics. As long as the government acts within the framework of the constitution, the president refrains from interference. This is a defining characteristic of Austrian political culture.”

Q&A with Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer

•  Why did Austria amend its constitution in 1929 to introduce the presidential system?
  Heinz Fischer: Austria was a monarchy for centuries. However, after Austria and Germany lost World War I, both countries experienced revolutions that led to the abolition of their monarchies. The Austrian emperor went into exile, and the newly established Republic of Austria firmly opposed the restoration of the monarchy. At the time, political leaders were reluctant to grant excessive power to the president, fearing that a strong presidential office could pave the way for a return to monarchy. As a result, Austria had no president when the republic was first established in 1918. Instead, the Speaker of the National Council served as the head of state with very limited authority. Two years later, in 1920, Austria adopted a new republican constitution that created the position of the federal president. However, the president was elected by parliament and had little political power. During the 1920s, as conservative forces grew stronger and left-wing influence declined, there were increasing calls for a more powerful presidency. Some even argued that the president should be a “leader figure.” After lengthy negotiations, a compromise was reached in 1929: the president would be elected by popular vote and granted additional powers while Austria remained a parliamentary democracy. This system remains in place today. The constitutional powers of the Austrian president are based on this 100-year-old compromise. Legal scholars and the public generally agree that the balance of power between the president, parliament, and government is well-structured.

• The president is elected by direct vote, while the chancellor is appointed by the president. Why are their selection processes different?
  Heinz Fischer: The president is elected by the people, but the chancellor is appointed by the president. However, the parliament can remove the chancellor at any time through a vote of no confidence. This structure plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of power. In other words, the chancellor must retain the trust of both the president, who appointed them, and parliament, which has the authority to dismiss them. If they fail to do so, they can be removed through a vote of no confidence.

• Why is the division of power between the president and chancellor important?
  Heinz Fischer: The president’s powers are generally well-balanced. No political party in Austria has seriously challenged this constitutional arrangement. The separation of powers has been a fundamental principle of European democratic states. This applies not only to the distinction between the executive and legislative branches but also to the internal division of roles within the government. The president’s powers are exercised based on government proposals, with the exception of appointing the chancellor, which does not require a government recommendation.

• Is there a risk of power concentration when the president and chancellor come from the same party?
  Heinz Fischer: Given Austria’s monarchical history, the public sees the president as a symbolic successor to the monarch. Therefore, they expect the president to remain independent and neutral in partisan politics. Since 1945, there has never been a serious issue due to the president and chancellor being from the same party. In fact, such situations have been rare. Austrian voters tend to balance power by electing a president from the opposition when the chancellor comes from a particular party, and vice versa.

 

Who is Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer?
Born in 1938, Heinz Fischer served as Austria’s president from 2004 to 2016. A graduate of the University of Vienna with a degree in law, he led the Social Democratic Party for eight years, served as Minister of Science, and held the position of Speaker of the National Council. Known for his humility, Fischer maintained a strong connection with the public, walking 20 minutes to work daily and continuing to live in his apartment after becoming president. In 2004, he won the election with 52% of the vote and later secured a record-breaking 79% in his re-election.