Wilhelm Miklas b. 15 Oct 1872, Krems an der Donau, Lower Austria [2, p. 1][5] d. 20 Mar 1956, Vienna [5] Title: Bundespräsident (Federal President) [see note on style] Term: 10 Dec 1928 - 9 Oct 1931 Chronology: 5 Dec 1928, elected by the 3rd Bundesversammlung (15:10-20:45 meeting, 20:25 results announced), Vienna [1, p. 1; 2, p. 2] 5 Dec 1928, sworn in, 3rd Bundesversammlung, Vienna [2, p. 2] 10 Dec 1928, between 13:00 and 14:00, presidency handover ceremony, Konferenzsaal, Präsidentschaftskanzlei, Ballhausplatz, Vienna [3, pp. 2-3] 9 Oct 1931, term expired (date fixed by a federal law of 8 Oct 1931) [7, item 303] Term: 9 Oct 1931 - 13 Mar 1938 Chronology: 9 Oct 1931, elected by the 4th Bundesversammlung (11:20 - 12:10 meeting, 12:00 results announced), the seat of Nationalrat, Vienna [7, p. 4] 9 Oct 1931, sworn in, 4th Bundesversammlung, the seat of Nationalrat, Vienna [7, p. 4] 19 Jun 1934, term (1931-1935) fixed to expire when successor is sworn in (swearing-in never took place) 13 Mar 1938, ceased to exercise the functions of Federal President (Federal Chancellor notified in writing 13 Mar 1938) [4, p. 1] [8, pp. 318-319] 13 Mar 1938, office of Federal President ceased to exist with incorporation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich (federal law of 13 Mar 1938) Biography: Studied history and geography in the University of Vienna. Gymnasium director in Horn (1905). Activist of the Christian Social Party (Christlichsoziale Partei). Member of the Reichsrat (1907-1918), Landtag of Lower Austria (1908-1918), State Council for German Austria (1918-1919), Provisional National Assembly (21 Oct 1918 - 16 Feb 1919), Constituent National Assembly (4 Mar 1919 - 9 Nov 1920). Undersecretary for cults (15 Mar 1919 - 20 Nov 1920), member of the Nationalrat (10 Nov 1920 - 6 Dec 1928), president of the Nationalrat (20 Nov 1923 - 6 Dec 1928), Federal President (10 Dec 1928 - 13 Mar 1938). Miklas refused to sign the law on incorporation of Austria into the German Reich (13 Mar 1938) and instead of signing his resignation notified Federal Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart that he ceases to exercise his duties. After 1945 Miklas remained politically inactive. Elections: Candidate 1st vote (5 Dec 1928) 2nd vote (5 Dec 1928) 3rd vote (5 Dec 1928) Wilhelm Miklas 94 94 94 Karl Renner 91 91 - Johannes Schober 25 26 26 blank/invalid 1 1 91 total votes cast 211 212 211 absolute majority 106 107 n/a Candidate Vote (9 Oct 1931) Wilhelm Miklas 109 Karl Renner 93 blank/invalid 1 total votes cast 203 absolute majority 102 Information source: 1928 [1, p. 1], 1931 [7, p. 4]. [1] Wiener Zeitung, Nr. 281, Donnerstag, 6. Dezember 1928. [2] Wiener Zeitung, Nr. 282, Freitag, 7. Dezember 1928. [3] Wiener Zeitung, Nr. 284, Dienstag, 11. Dezember 1928. [4] Wiener Zeitung, Nr. 72, Montag, 14. März 1938. [5] Österreich-Lexikon (web site). [6] Bundesgesetzblatt für die Republik Österreich (1931). [7] Wiener Zeitung, Nr. 228, Samstag, 10. Oktober 1931. [8] "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer!: Der Anschluss Österreichs 1938", by Dieter Wagner and Gerhard Tomkowitz (Piper & Co. Verlag, München, 1968). Image: photograph, 1919. Wiener Bilder, 9. Dezember 1928. S. 1. Last updated on: 25 Jun 2009 20:00:00
