Karl Lueger

Born in Vienna, he graduated in law from the University of Vienna (receiving his doctorate in 1870). He founded and led the Christian Social Party which took political power from the German Liberals in Vienna and combatted the Social Democrats. A faction in the Austrian parliament, the Christian Social Party won Vienna city council in 1895 and subsequently helped Lueger win mayoralty. After three refusals, Emperor Franz Josef finally sanctioned his election in 1897. He was the mayor of Vienna from 1897 to 1910

Known for his anti-semitism, Lueger was credited by Adolf Hitler as an inspiration for the latter's more virulent form of anti-semitism. He also advocated racist policies against all non-German speaking minorities in Austria-Hungary. He voted, in 1887, for Georg Ritter von Schönerer's proposed bill to restrict the immigration of Russian and Romanian Jews. He was an admirer of Édouard Drumont. His racism inspired some of the leaders of the Austrian republic in 1918-1938, such as Ignaz Seipel, Engelbert Dollfuss and Kurt von Schuschnigg. Some see Austrian Freedom Party leader, Jörg Haider, as an heir of Lueger's (1).

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