Ulrike Lunacek

Ulrike Lunacek, born on May twenty-sixth, nineteen fifty-seven, is a prominent Austrian politician, journalist, interpreter, and translator. She is a dedicated member of the Austrian Green party, known as The Greens – The Green Alternative, and is affiliated with the European Green Party. Her political career has been marked by significant roles, including her tenure as a Member of the European Parliament from two thousand nine to two thousand seventeen.

During her time in the European Parliament, Lunacek held the position of Vice President and was an active member of the Greens/EFA group. She was notably the Kosovo rapporteur and co-president of the Intergroup on LGBTI Rights. Additionally, she contributed to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and served as a substitute in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, showcasing her commitment to both cultural and human rights issues.

In two thousand seventeen, Lunacek was the top candidate for the Austrian general election representing the Greens. Unfortunately, the party faced a historic defeat, failing to secure a single seat in parliament for the first time since nineteen eighty-six. Following this setback, she stepped down from her political roles in Austria and the EU.

In early two thousand twenty, Lunacek briefly served as State Secretary for Cultural Affairs in Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's government. However, her tenure was short-lived; she resigned in May two thousand twenty amid pressure from theatre directors and performers who criticized the government's slow response to reopening cultural venues during the COVID-19 pandemic.