The 31-Year Old Driving The Migration Conversation In Europe

Sebastian Kurz was elected chancellor of Austria last October and, at 31, is one of the youngest leaders in Europe. He is also one of the most interesting: Kurz and his People’s Party (ÖVP) won by effectively combining movement-style campaign rhetoric with a sharp turn to the right on immigration. He and his party now govern in a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).

As conversations about migration have dominated headlines — especially in Germany — Kurz has already appeared in the news plenty lately. But with Austria taking over the EU presidency on July 1, he's been further thrust into the spotlight on the issue; during Austria's EU presidency term, he has said migration is one of the things he plans to focus on.

Kurz, part of a new generation of European leaders, is someone to watch as this debate unfolds further — both because of his role as chancellor of one of the countries in the midst of discussions about tighter border controls and refugee restrictions, and because he represents a worldview that is becoming stronger, not weaker, within Europe's political class.