Muna Duzdar
Muna Duzdar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| State secretary in the Federal Chancellery | |
| Assumed office 17 May 2016 | |
| President | Heinz Fischer Alexander Van der Bellen |
| Chancellor | Christian Kern |
| Preceded by | Sonja Stessl |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 August 1978 Vienna, Austria |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | University of Vienna University of Paris |
Muna Duzdar (born 22 August 1978) is the incumbent State secretary in the Federal Chancellery in Austria. When she was appointed on 17 May 2016 she became the first Muslim person to hold a post in the Austrian Federal government. [1]
Early life and education
Duzdar was raised in Donaustadt, a district of Vienna, as the daughter of Palestinian immigrants. She studied law at the University of Vienna followed by postgraduate Master studies in International law at the Sorbonne University. On 9 November 2011 she passed her bar exam and has been working as a lawyer since 2012.
During her studies she was working as law secretary at the Austrian Tenants' Association from 1999 to 2001. After that she worked for the Socialist Youth Austria as international secretary until 2004. This was followed by an internship at the European Parliament from 2004 to 2005. During her Master studies she worked as foreign language assistant in two Paris suburbs, Livry-Gargan and Clichy-sous-Bois from 2005 to 2006 and then in administrative positions at the Parti Socialiste in Paris.
Career
Duzdar started her political career in 2001 when she became a district councillor for Donaustadt. In 2010 she was sworn in as a member of the Federal Council where she took on the responsibility of speaker for foreign policy for the Social Democratic Party. She was also a member of several committees within the Federal Council. On 18 November 2012 Duzdar left the Federal Council and switched to the Vienna , where she was sworn in on 19 November 2012 taking over Karin Schrödl's position.
Duzdar considers Foreign Policy, Education, Integration and Housing as her main politicial focus areas.
On 17 May 2016 Muna Duzdar was appointed as State secretary in the Federal Chancellery by Chancellor Christian Kern, who himself had assumed that position on 9 May 2016 after his predecessor Werner Faymann had stepped down. She is responsible for "Administration and Public Service", as well as "Diversity and Digitalization".
Personal life
Duzdar's parents are Palestinian immigrants. Her father was an employee of UNIDO, her mother a housewife. She has five siblings and her native languages are German and Arabic. She describes herself as a non-practicing Muslima, which makes her the first member of the austrian federal government, that belongs to the Muslim faith.
Duzdar is also the president of the Palestinian-Austrian Association. [2]
References
- ^ "Muna Duzdar: Faymann-Kritikerin sitzt nun im Kanzleramt". Die Presse (in German). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Palästinensisch-Österreichische Gesellschaft (PÖG)" (in German). Retrieved 19 May 2016.
External links
- Muna Duzdar at meineabgeordneten.at Template:De icon