Othmar Karas

Othmar Karas MEP
Official portrait, 2014
First Vice-President of the European Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 January 2022
President	Roberta Metsola
Preceded by	Roberta Metsola
Vice-President of the European Parliament
In office 3 July 2019 – 18 January 2022 Serving with See List
President	David Sassoli
In office 18 January 2012 – 30 June 2014 Serving with See List
President	Martin Schulz Gianni Pittella (acting)
Member of the European Parliament for Austria
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 1999
Leader of the Austrian People's Party in the European Parliament
In office 1 July 1999 – 2019
Leader	Wolfgang Schüssel Wilhelm Molterer Josef Pröll Michael Spindelegger Reinhold Mitterlehner Sebastian Kurz
Personal details
Born	(1957-12-24) 24 December 1957 (age 66) Ybbs an der Donau, Austria
Political party	Austrian People's Party
Other political affiliations	European People's Party
Spouse	Christa Waldheim
Children	2
Education	University of Vienna University of St. Gallen
Website	Official website

Othmar Karas (born 24 December 1957) is an Austrian politician who has been serving as the First Vice-President of the European Parliament since January 2022,^[1] having been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 1999. He is a member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), which in turn affiliates with the European People's Party.

Karas sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect. Between 2012 and 2022, he was one of the vice presidents of the European Parliament. He was elected as First Vice-President on 18 January 2022.^[1]