A member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), he served as minister of health from 2008 to 2014.

He attended the social academy of the Austrian Chamber of Labour between 1986 and 1987 and completed training as a supervisor in 1982.

Stöger also trained at the European Trade Union Academy and studied social practice at the Marc Bloch University in Strasbourg and Linz.

Since 1997, Stöger has been a member of the local council of Gallneukirchen, serving as an alderman between 2003 and 2008.

He was councillor in the Chamber of Labour in Upper Austria from 2000 to 2008 and served as Minister of Health, Family Affairs and Youth from 2 December 2008 to 31 January 2009.