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Biography
Elisabeth Gehrer (née Pokorny, born 11 May 1942) is an Austrian politician for the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). From May 1995 until January 2007 Gehrer was Federal Minister of Education, Science and Culture, at first in grand coalition governments headed by Franz Vranitzky and Viktor Klima (both SPÖ), and from 2000 onwards in Wolfgang Schüssel's coalition government. From 1999 to 2007, she also served as vice party chairperson of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).
The daughter of a self-employed businessman and a kindergarten teacher, she was brought up and educated in Innsbruck. She became a primary school teacher in 1961 and continued teaching in small country schools until 1966.
In 1964 she married Fritz Gehrer, moved to Bregenz, Vorarlberg and became a homemaker. The couple has three adult sons, one of whom, Stefan, is a journalist for the ORF.
Elisabeth Gehrer started her political career in 1980 as a regional politician in Bregenz. She remained in Vorarlberg in various political positions until her appointment as Federal Minister in 1995.
Gehrer announced her decision to step down in the wake of the Austrian legislative election, 2006 and was succeeded on 11 January 2007 by Claudia Schmied and Johannes Hahn.
Gehrer was a Scout leader, National Commissioner for Rangers of Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs and teamed Woodbadge trainings (i.e.1976 in Wassergspreng).
