Figl, Leopold (1902-1965)

Austrian politician. He joined the People's party and was Austrian chancellor 1945-53 and foreign minister 1953-59. He became the National Assembly's president in 1959, and governor of Lower Austria in 1962.

He was born in Rust and educated the Vienna Agricultural College. He became director of the Austrian Bauernbund (Farmers' League) in 1935. During the Nazi occupation of Austria his political opposition led him to being imprisoned in concentration camps for over five years. As foreign minister, he negotiated and signed the Austrian peace treaty in 1955.