He also served as Second President of the National Council and head of the ÖAAB. In 1994, Lichal, who was quite flirtatious with nicknames like “Stahlhelm” and “Revolverhofrat”, withdrew from politics.
In the “Draken fight”, which dominated the domestic political discussion for months, Lichal had the Styrian governor Josef Krainer (ÖVP) as his opponent – due to the stationing of the aircraft in Styria. Protests, demonstrations, “people carpets” and airstrip blockades by Draken opponents were on the agenda. The case went all the way to the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and – for the first time in parliamentary history – even resulted in a motion of no confidence from within his own party. In the end, Lichal prevailed – the Draken (later replaced by the Eurofighters) came and Lichal stayed.
Lawyer and trade unionist
Lichal was considered a veteran of the Lower Austrian ÖVP – but he was born on July 9, 1932 in Vienna. After studying law and serving a year in court, he initially worked as a legal advisor to district authorities. From 1968 he was involved as an employee representative with the Lower Austrian state employees, and in 1973 he became deputy chairman of the public service union. In December 1985, Lichal took over the chairmanship of the Christian Trade Unionists (FCG) faction in the ÖGB, and in 1987 he finally replaced Herbert Kohlmaier as ÖAAB federal chairman.
Lichal had already moved into the Federal Council in February 1976. In 1979 he moved to the National Council, where he served as ÖVP security spokesman until January 1987. This year he finally became the first defense minister in the grand coalition of SPÖ and ÖVP. Among other things, he was responsible for anchoring the militia structure in the constitution, the purchase of anti-tank guided weapons and the grassroots work for the federal army reform.
Allegations once morest Lichal
In December 1989, Lichal was accused of having purchased army ammunition from the Swiss company Oerlikon at inflated prices two years earlier. He justified his approach by saying that only Oerlikon had fulfilled the tender conditions. This affair also overshadowed the end of 1990, when Lichal handed over the office of Defense Minister to Werner Fasslabend as part of the government reshuffle following the election and – amid considerable opposition protests – was elected Second President of the National Council. In December 1990, the charges once morest Lichal were finally stopped.
In June of the following year, Lichal withdrew from the top of the ÖAAB and handed over the office to Josef Höchtl. He remained honorary chairman of the NÖ-AAB. It was only in 1994, when the then Federal President Thomas Klestil organized a festive farewell for him, that Lichal revealed what his actual career goal had been – to become an actor at the Burgtheater.
“Parade Politician”
Mikl-Leitner praised Lichal as a “parade politician who has deeply impressed many people in this country with his passion, straightforwardness and steadfastness” – including herself. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) called him a “passionate fighter for his ideas”. worked tirelessly to expand the militia.
