Minister from 1987-90

ÖVP hardliner Robert Lichal dies at the age of 91

"Stahlhelm" Lichal was also Second President of the National Council and head of the ÖAAB.(Bild: APA/HANS KLAUS TECHT)

Former Defense Minister Robert Lichal (ÖVP) died on Thursday at the age of 91. This was announced by Johanna Mikl-Leiter (ÖVP), Governor of Lower Austria, in a press release. He became famous above all in 1987 with the implementation of the Draken interceptors.

He also served as Second President of the National Council and ÖAAB leader. In 1994, Lichal, who flirted with nicknames such as "Stahlhelm" and "Revolverhofrat", retired from politics.

Ex-minister in the "Draken fight"
In the "Draken fight", which dominated the domestic political debate for months at the time, Lichal had Styrian Governor Josef Krainer (ÖVP) as his opponent - due to the stationing of the aircraft in Styria. Protests, demonstrations, "human carpets" and airstrip blockades by Draken opponents were on the agenda.

The case went all the way to the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and - for the first time in parliamentary history - even resulted in a motion of censure from within his own party. In the end, Lichal prevailed - the Draken (later replaced by the Eurofighters) came and Lichal stayed.

Lichal with ÖVP veteran Andreas Khol(Bild: APA/HERBERT PFARRHOFER)

A career in politics
Although Lichal was considered a veteran of the Lower Austrian ÖVP, he was born in Vienna on July 9, 1932. After studying law and spending a year in court, he initially worked as a legal advisor at district administrative offices. As an employee representative, he became involved with the Lower Austrian state employees from 1968, and in 1973 he became deputy chairman of the Public Service Union. In December 1985, Lichal took over the chairmanship of the Christian Trade Unionists Group (FCG) in the ÖGB, and in 1987 he finally replaced Herbert Kohlmaier as ÖAAB Federal Chairman.

Lichal had already been elected to the Federal Council in February 1976. In 1979, he moved to the National Council, where he served as ÖVP security spokesman until January 1987. In that year, he finally became the first Minister of Defense of the grand coalition between the SPÖ and ÖVP. Among other things, he was responsible for anchoring the militia structure in the constitution, the acquisition of anti-tank guided missiles and the groundwork for the army reform.

Involvement in the Oerlikon affair
In December 1989, Lichal was accused of having purchased army ammunition at inflated prices from the Swiss company Oerlikon two years previously. He justified his actions by claiming that only Oerlikon had fulfilled the tender conditions. This affair also overshadowed the end of 1990, when Lichal handed over the office of Minister of Defense to Werner Fasslabend in the course of the government reshuffle after the election and - amid considerable opposition protests - was elected Second President of the National Council. In December 1990, the investigations against Lichal were finally discontinued.

Federal Chancellor and ÖVP chairman Karl Nehammer described Lichal as a "mastermind of our country's ability to defend itself". He had been "an important part of the Christian-social employee representation" and had "significantly shaped" the politics of the country in various positions and offices. His handshake quality was emphasized by National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP). For Lichal, "respectful and open dialog" had always been a priority, for which he was held in high esteem across party lines, said Sobotka.

Mikl-Leitner pays tribute to a "paragon politician"
In June of the following year, Lichal retired from the ÖAAB leadership and handed over the office to Josef Höchtl, who remained honorary chairman of the Lower Austrian AAB. It was not until 1994, when the then Federal President Thomas Klestil organized a festive farewell for him, that Lichal revealed what his real career goal had been - to become an actor at the Burgtheater.

Mikl-Leitner paid tribute to Lichal as a "paragon politician who deeply impressed many people in this country with his passion, straightforwardness and steadfastness" - including herself. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) called him a "passionate fighter for his ideas" who had tirelessly campaigned for the expansion of the militia.