President Kurt Waldheim, ostracized by other world leaders because of accusations that he was involved in Nazi war crimes, announced Friday he will not seek re-election when his term expires in June 1992.
"I want to tell you all today that after careful consideration of the interest of our republic, I have decided not to run for a further term as president," Waldheim said.Waldheim, 73, former secretary-general of the United Nations, was elected Austria's president in 1986 under the cloud of a suspected Nazi past, although he was never a member of the Nazi Party and has not been convicted of any war crimes.
On April 27, 1987, Waldheim was formally barred from entering the United States for his alleged links to Nazi atrocities. It was the first time the United States barred a friendly nation's head of state. The decision rattled relations between Vienna and Washington, and Austria recalled its ambassador.
Waldheim had promised an announcement "in the summer" on his political plans, but this early decision came as a surprise. Austrian presidents traditionally seek a second term, but many in the nation had publicly expressed hopes that he would decide not to run again.
Waldheim has probably had fewer official engagements and trips abroad than any of his predecessors. Indeed, many countries refused to recognize him.