Austrian law does not permit members of the Habsburg family to run for the president. This is largely due to a fear that a Habsburg might want to restore the monarchy. Ulrich, who has the title Count Ulrich von Habsburg-Lothringe, is a non-dynast as he descends from a morganatic marriage. His grandfather, Archduke Heinrich Ferdinand of Austria, was married in 1919 to a commoner, Karolina Ludescher. As this marriage was morganatic, Heinrich's descendants are not heirs to the former Austrian throne. The Austrian law does not differentiate between the equal and not-equal descendants of the former ruling house. Ulrich is a descendant with the surname Habsburg. His daughter-in-law, Gabriele, also wants to run for political office, but she is also barred because she married to a Habsburg.
Ulrich bears the title Count of Habsburg-Lothringen, but in Austria one cannot use a title, even as a part of one's surname. Thus, Ulrich's legal surname is Habsburg without even the von.
http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2009-09-16/16436/Habsburg_goes_to_court_over_presidential_ban
1 comment:
I feel it is a quite out-dated provision in the Austrian constitution. Austria shoudl be more confident in its republican status.
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