State election

Claudia Gamon wants to fish in the ÖVP’s territory

Claudia Gamon during her acceptance speech in Hohenems(Bild: JOCHEN HOFER/APA/picturedesk.com)

Basically, it was just a formality: at the NEOS general meeting in Hohenems on Saturday, Claudia Gamon was chosen as the top candidate for the regional elections. There were no other personal surprises either.

Gamon, who is also the NEOS state spokesperson, received 93% approval in the three-stage election process. In her acceptance speech, the 35-year-old immediately made it clear where she would prefer to fish for votes, namely the People's Party. After decades in government, the Vorarlberg ÖVP had worn itself out, was weak in decision-making and lacked leadership: "The people of Vorarlberg are rightly asking themselves where the solutions to the major problems are. And they are also wondering why housing and childcare in Vorarlberg are barely affordable."

While the ÖVP stands for stagnation, the NEOS is a party that focuses on the future and does not shy away from major solutions, says Gamon: "This includes tackling major challenges immediately. This includes a housing offensive by the state as well as clear support for young people who are taking the plunge into property ownership for the first time. Childcare must become free of charge. And we need to radically clean out the excessive and complicated bureaucracy!"

State list without any big surprises
On Saturday, the Pinks approved the entire state list for the state elections, with the five best-placed candidates also taking their places on the district lists. The surprise effect was limited, with only familiar faces landing in the top places on the list: behind Gamon, the current members of the state parliament Fabienne Lackner and Garry Thür follow in second and third place. In view of the fact that he is actually being drawn to the National Council, club chairman Johannes Gasser will only be running in fourth place. This means that Katharina Fuchs (42), Deputy Mayor of Langenegg, and Christoph Gruber (34) in fifth and sixth place on the list also have a chance of winning a seat in the state parliament.

The people of Vorarlberg are rightly asking themselves where the solutions to the major problems are.

Claudia Gamon, NEOS

For this to happen, however, the election result would have to be better than in 2019: back then, the Pinken achieved a share of 8.47% of the vote and thus reached club strength for the first time. Current polls put the NEOS at around ten percent; in view of the current weakness of the ÖVP, the government participation they are currently aiming for would only be possible in a three-party constellation. But the state elections are still a few months away.