Franz-Joseph Huainigg
Franz-Joseph Huainigg, born on June 16, 1966 in Paternion (Kärnten), is an Austrian politician, author and a Member of Parliament for the ÖVP (Österreichische Volkspartei, Austrian People's Party) since 2002. He is the party spokesman for the disabled.
Political career
Franz-Joseph Huainigg suffered severe disabilities after vaccinations in his first year and has been confined to a wheelchair ever since. From December 20, 2002 until October 27, 2008, he was a Member of Parliament for the Austrian People's Party and retired after the national election in 2008. After the change of Beatrix Karl in the Federal Government, Huainigg came back to the National Council in January 2010. During the parliamentary elections of September 2013, he was a candidate on the ÖVP Federal list at No.12 and following the retirement of Michael Spindelegger, Huainigg moved again to the National Council.
Education
Franz-Joseph Huainigg holds a doctorate in German studies.
Notable work
Huainigg founded the Vienna cripple cabaret in the 1990s. In 2007, he founded the Austrian literary prize "ear candy" for people with learning difficulties, which is since then awarded annually. Also in 2007, Huainigg Initiated the action "not in the dark” in response to "Licht ins Dunkel", shown on Austrian TV, which criticized the spread of the false media image of disabled people as objects of pity and Huainigg instead demanded better social integration. In 2013, Huainigg initiated the site rechtleicht.at, with an explanation on the political concepts and processes in simple language.
