Jörg Leichtfried (born 18 June 1967 in Bruck an der Mur, Styria) is an Austrian politician of the Social Democratic Party who has been serving as a member of the National Council since the 2017 elections. Since 3 March 2025 he is the State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior responsible for the Directorate State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN).
He previously served as Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology in the government of Chancellor Christian Kern from 2016 until 2017.
Education Studied jurisprudence at the Faculty of Law of the University of Graz (graduated 1994)
Career 1995-1999: Legal officer, Styrian Chamber of Labour 1998-2004: Departmental head, citizens' advice service, Bruck and der Mur's City council
Political career Early beginnings 1994-2000: Regional vice-chairman of the Styria Young Socialists 1999: Austrian Parliament candidate, Styria Young Socialists 2000-2002: Federal chairman of the Austrian Young Socialists since 2000: Regional Party vice-chairman of the Styria SPÖ
Member of the European Parliament, 2004–2015 Leichtfried was first elected a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) with the SPÖ, part of the Socialist Group, in the 2004 European elections. During his time in parliament, he served on the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism. In this capacity, he was the Parliament's rapporteur on the European Aviation Safety Agency (2007) and on the cross-border admission of heavy haulers (2014), among other dossiers.Lorraine Mallinder (17 October 2007), Aviation agency stuck on runway European Voice.
In addition, Leichtfried was a substitute for the Committee on International Trade, a member of the Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community and a substitute for the Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America. He was also a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals and of the European Parliament Intergroup on the Digital Agenda.Members European Parliament Intergroup on the Digital Agenda.
Federal Minister of Transport, 2016–2017 In May 2016, incoming Chancellor Christian Kern appointed Leichtfried as Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology.
Under his leadership, Austria announced plans in March 2017 to file a legal challenge at the European Court of Justice against plans by Germany to introduce a road toll for foreign-registered cars using German highways.Kirsti Knolle, Francois Murphy, Michelle Martin and Paul Carrel (31 March 2017), Austria to file legal challenge against German highway toll Reuters.
State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, 2025– On 3 March 2025 Leichtfried was appointed as State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior. The Federal Minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, assigned him responsibility for the Directorate State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN).
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