Born in Austria · Nationalities Estonian, Austrian — Politics / institutions

Alexander Van der Bellen

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Annulment of the second round of the 2016 presidential election over procedural irregularities” and “Remarks about wearing headscarves in solidarity and ensuing national controversy”.

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Profile No. 0129 · Updated on 12 October 2026

6Documented controversies+ 1 background event

15Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2017–2026

Remarks about wearing headscarves in solidarity and ensuing national controversy

No legal proceedings

Van der Bellen said that one day, if Islamophobia increased, all women might be asked to wear a headscarf in solidarity. The remark triggered widespread controversy in Austria and was repeatedly quoted abroad, including in 2026.

State of the evidence: Public remarks, reactions and subsequent clarification documented
Legal status — source text: No personal judicial proceedings
Attribution: Personal responsibility for his statements

Sources · 3

[1]
ORFVan der Bellen sorgt mit Kopftuch-Sager für AufregungMediaHigh reliability
[2]
ORFVan der Bellen räumt Fehler bei Kopftuch-Sager einMediaHigh reliability
[3]
ORFKopftuch-Sager von Van der Bellen erneut international aufgegriffenMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 1 September 2026

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2024–2025

Contested decision not to invite the FPÖ immediately to form a government after the 2024 election

No legal proceedings

After the FPÖ won the 2024 parliamentary election, Van der Bellen did not immediately ask Herbert Kickl to form a government, initially favouring negotiations among centrist parties. The FPÖ denounced the decision as a rejection of the voters' verdict. After that attempt failed, the President invited Kickl to form a government in January 2025; those negotiations also failed.

State of the evidence: Presidential decisions and sequence of negotiations documented
Legal status — source text: No judicial proceedings
Attribution: Personal constitutional and political responsibility for selecting the person invited to form a government

Sources · 3

[1]
ReutersAustrian conservatives again rule out far-right alliance after leaders meetMediaHigh reliability
[2]
ORFVan der Bellen erteilt RegierungsbildungsauftragMediaHigh reliability
[3]
ORFVan der Bellen beauftragt Kickl mit RegierungsbildungMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 1 September 2026

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2014–2022

Change in his assessment of Vladimir Putin and acknowledgement of an error of judgement

No legal proceedings

Van der Bellen's earlier positions on Russia and Vladimir Putin came under renewed critical scrutiny after the invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, he acknowledged having underestimated or misjudged Putin.

State of the evidence: Written statements, interviews and public acknowledgement of his error documented
Legal status — source text: No judicial proceedings
Attribution: Personal responsibility for his analyses and public positions

Sources · 3

[1]
Der StandardErstaunliche Texte der Hofburg-KandidatenMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Der StandardVan der Bellen: „Ich fühle mich reifer als je zuvor“MediaHigh reliability
[3]
Der StandardVan der Bellen geißelt Russlands AngriffMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 1 September 2026

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2022

Controversial wording on inflation and call to 'grit one's teeth'

No legal proceedings

During the 2022 presidential campaign, Van der Bellen used wording essentially calling on citizens to grit their teeth in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, which was criticised as being out of touch with the situation of low-income households.

State of the evidence: Campaign remarks and criticism documented
Legal status — source text: No judicial proceedings
Attribution: Personal responsibility for a public statement

Sources · 2

[1]
Die ZeitAlexander Van der Bellen und die Frage seiner BeliebtheitMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Die PresseWie Van der Bellen die Wahl gewonnen hatMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 1 September 2026

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2021

Call to admit Afghan refugees and disagreement with the government

No legal proceedings

After the Taliban took Kabul, Van der Bellen called for Austria to admit people facing particular danger. The conservative government rejected the idea, triggering a political confrontation over asylum policy.

State of the evidence: Presidential statement and government refusal documented
Legal status — source text: No judicial proceedings
Attribution: Personal responsibility for his institutional position

Sources · 1

[1]
ORFVan der Bellen für Aufnahme von AfghanenMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 1 September 2026

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2017

Appointment of the ÖVP–FPÖ government despite earlier reservations

No legal proceedings

During his presidential campaign, Van der Bellen had expressed strong reservations about a government led or dominated by the FPÖ. After the 2017 parliamentary election, he nevertheless appointed an ÖVP–FPÖ government, prompting criticism from some of his supporters.

State of the evidence: Campaign positions and appointment of government documented
Legal status — source text: No judicial proceedings
Attribution: Constitutional responsibility as President

Sources · 2

[1]
ORFVan der Bellen und die FPÖ-RegierungsfrageMediaHigh reliability
[2]
ORFVan der Bellen zu RegierungsbildungMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 1 September 2026

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II. Documented background

Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.

2016
Annulment of the second round of the 2016 presidential election over procedural irregularities
Austria's Constitutional Court annulled the second round of the May 2016 presidential election, narrowly won by Van der Bellen, because of irregularities in the handling of postal votes. The vote was repeated, and Van der Bellen won by a wider margin.
Sources · 1
1. Reuters / Euronews — Austria’s Constitutional Court orders presidential election rerun

III. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (1)

Herbert Kickl1 documented reference
- Contested decision not to invite the FPÖ immediately to form a government after the 2024 election Source ↗

IV. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.