Against anti-Semtism and racism
From Federal Chancellor to volunteer: Sebastian Kurz is now committed to tolerance and reconciliation
After his departure, Sebastian Kurz now has two new responsibilities. One of them is volunteering.
© Georg Hochmuth / APA / DPA
After his political end, Sebastian Kurz will continue to Silicon Valley. He also wants to do voluntary work and has already found a place for this.
After Sebastian Kurz resigned from all political offices, the first rumors began to circulate about his future career. At the end of 2021 it came out: The youngest former chancellor joins the investment company Thiel Capital of the generous financier in Silicon Valley and former Trump advisor Peter Thiel as a “global strategist” (read more about Sebastian Kurz’s new employer here). It is not entirely clear what role Kurz will play there. It is conceivable, however, that he will expand the company’s contacts in Eastern Europe.
In addition to his actual work, Kurz will in future be involved in the fight against anti-Semitism and racism on a voluntary basis. The 35-year-old is now – together with the British ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair – chairman of the European Council for Tolerance and Reconciliation (ECTR), wrote ECTR President Moshe Kantor on Twitter. “We couldn’t have found anyone better to lead with passion, wisdom and determination.”
The ÖVP announced that Kurz should bring his international contacts into the new job. According to the organization, the council, which was founded in 2008, includes the former President of the German Bundestag, Rita Süssmuth.
Sebastian Kurz is committed to anti-Semtism and racism
During his time as head of government, Kurz clearly stood by Israel’s side and vehemently opposed hatred of Jews. He resigned from his post in 2021 after allegations of corruption, the justification of which he denies.
Via the news service Twitter, Austria’s ex-Chancellor Kurz announced that he was “honored to be a member of the European Council for Tolerance and Reconciliation”. He knows “firsthand how important the work of the ECTR is to executives in drawing up guidelines to combat racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia”.
The organization, also known as the European Council for Tolerance and Reconciliation (ECTR), was founded in Paris in 2008. President of the council is the Russian entrepreneur, billionaire and philanthropist Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor, who is also President of the European Jewish Congress and a founding member of the World Holocaust Forum. Members of the council include several former heads of state and government, including Spain’s former Prime Minister Jose María Aznar and Sweden’s ex-Prime Minister Göran Persson. There are also two women among the ten members. The only German member is Rita Süssmuth, who was President of the German Bundestag from 1988 to 1998.