Land Vorarlberg - Presse

Former Head of the Provincial Government is 75

Vorarlberg's former head of the provincial government, Martin Purtscher, celebrated his 75th birthday on 12 November 2003. The current head of the Provincial Government, Herbert Sausgruber and Parliamentary President, Manfred Dörler, paid tribute to the "veteran politician, who dedicated his long political career to the service of his homeland and its citizens." Purtscher entered the Vorarlberg Parliament in 1964. From 1974 to 1987 he was Parliamentary President and Head of the Provincial Government from 1987 to 1997. His commitment went even beyond the borders of the province: in 1988/89 he was President of the Alpine Countries Commission (ARGE ALP), in 1989/90 he was chairman of the International Lake Constance Conference (IBK) and a member of the Board of the Assembly of European Regions. One of Purtscher's enduring contributions was the decisive role he played within the framework of Austria's accession to the EU.