Oostenrijkse president Thomas Klestil overleden (en)
Auteur: | By Richard Carter
The President of Austria, Thomas Klestil, has died only two days before ending term his
in office.
Mr Klestil, 71, whose post was largely ceremonial, finally passed away just before midnight on Tuesday (6 July) in Vienna having suffered a heart attack the day before.
It was earlier announced that his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys had all failed, giving the President no chance of survival.
He leaves behind a wife and three children.
Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel told Austrians, "Austria has lost a great personality. We associate ourselves with the grief of the family", according to media reports.
Mr Klestil first became Austria's president in 1992 and was re-elected for a second term in July 1998.
And he was on the verge of handing over the reins to his successor, Social Democrat Heinz Fischer, who was elected in April, when his health deteriorated.
In accordance with the Constitution, Mr Schüssel will take over the duties of the President until Mr Fischer takes over.