Elke Kahr Austrian politician Date of Birth: 02.11.1961 Country: Austria

1. Early Life and Education
2. Political Involvement
3. 2003-2012
4. 2012-Present
5. Ideology and Leadership
6. KahrPÖ
7. Social Justice and Charity

Early Life and Education

Elke Kahr was born on November 2, 1961, in Graz, Austria. As an infant, she was given up for adoption and placed in an orphanage. At the age of three, she was adopted by a working-class couple, a mechanic, and a housewife. Kahr grew up in a working-class neighborhood and attended Neuahrt Elementary School and St. Andrä Grammar School. She later studied at Handelsschule Grazbachgasse, a business school. While working at the Austrian Kontrollbank, she simultaneously pursued her education at Handelsakademie, a night-time business academy, and earned her high school diploma in 1984.

Political Involvement

In 1983, Kahr joined the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ). Five years later, she became involved in the party's district organization in Graz. It was within the KPÖ that she met her partner, Franz Stefan Parteder, a former chairman of the party's provincial organization. The couple has a son, Franz, born in 1990.

By 1993, Kahr had become a member of the Graz City Council, and in 1998, she was elected as the KPÖ's Klubobfrau, or leader of its caucus. For much of the mid-1990s, Kahr was overshadowed by fellow party member Ernest Kaltenegger, who became the first communist to serve as a city councilor in Graz since World War II in 1998.

2003-2012

From 2003 to 2004, Kahr served as deputy federal chairman of the KPÖ. In 2005, she led the party's campaign in the Styrian state parliament elections, securing 6.34% of the vote and four seats in the legislature. Kahr subsequently replaced Kaltenegger, who had been elected to the state parliament, as the city councilor responsible for housing. In the subsequent municipal elections in Graz, she consistently topped the KPÖ's electoral list.

2012-Present

Following the 2012 elections, Kahr was nominated as the KPÖ's candidate for deputy mayor of Graz but failed to secure a majority vote. Two years later, she was re-elected as a city councilor with an expanded portfolio that included construction and investment.

In 2016, Kahr was elected deputy mayor, succeeding Martina Schröck of the Social Democratic Party. Her election, the first for a communist party member in Austria since 1959, sparked national attention. In the 2017 municipal elections, the KPÖ maintained its support and increased its representation in the city government to two councilors. However, the deputy mayor's position was lost to Mario Eustacchio of the Freedom Party of Austria.

Ideology and Leadership

Kahr describes herself as a Marxist but distances herself from Stalinism. She has also criticized the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. While she believes that the Graz City Council is not the ideal forum for implementing her communist principles, KPÖ's policy statements often include radical rhetoric.

Kahr prioritizes social issues in her work, advocating for reduced working hours and higher minimum wages. She has refused to receive her full salary, donating a portion to a social foundation that provides financial assistance to vulnerable individuals.

KahrPÖ

Under Kahr's leadership, the KPÖ in Graz has been characterized by its emphasis on direct contact with citizens, rather than ideological conflict. The party focuses on practical issues such as housing and welfare, while acknowledging its socialist ideology. Due to the party's prominence, some commentators have referred to it as "KahrPÖ," a play on the party's abbreviation in German.

Social Justice and Charity

Kahr is a strong advocate for social justice, emphasizing that social problems cannot be solved at the local political level. She seeks to ensure equality for all Graz residents, regardless of their background. Kahr's commitment to charity is evident in her decision to donate a significant portion of her salary to organizations that support individuals facing financial hardship.