Rise of the KPÖ

How the Salzburg election affects Upper Austria

Michael Gruber (FPÖ), Florian Hiegelsberger (ÖVP) and Florian Koppler reflect on the effects of the election in Salzburg.(Bild: Markus Wenzel (2), Harald Dostal, zVg Krone KREATIV,)

Party managers from Upper Austria comment on politics in our neighboring province of Salzburg: there, the SPÖ feels on the upswing, while the ÖVP is bitterly disappointed. Why is that?

After this election, the leaders of the SPÖ Upper Austria are happy to look to their neighbors in Salzburg: "A well-established election victory is something very positive, something that hasn't happened very often in recent times," says SPÖ regional manager Florian Koppler. In Salzburg, they have the chance to win back the town hall, the Reds have to go into the run-off against the KPÖ Plus and its top candidate Kay-Michael Dankl.

SPÖ party manager Florian Koppler says: "We have had 17 mayors in Salzburg so far, now it could even be 25. That is of course a very pleasing result."(Bild: Markus Wenzel)

"Authentic, new appearance is appreciated"
Koppler on the rise of the communist: "It's a fundamental phenomenon - an authentic, new and fresh approach is appreciated," he says of Dankl. But, according to Koppler: "You have to realize that there are problematic people in the second and third ranks of the KPÖ."

Florian Hiegelsberger (ÖVP): "A look at the results of the local elections in Salzburg reflects the diversity of the province and the municipalities. There were ballots in a total of 119 cities and municipalities with different results."(Bild: Markus Wenzel)

ÖVP: It makes no sense to read trends here
For the ÖVP, which lost the mayor in the city of Salzburg, party manager Florian Hiegelsberger commented on the election: "There were ballots in a total of 119 cities and municipalities with different results. Deriving nationwide trends from this has not worked in the past, and I don't think it's very useful today either."

The Freedom Party's Michael Gruber told "Krone": "We know what communism has done. The result of the KPÖ is more to be attributed to the candidate than to this party."(Bild: Harald Dostal)

"Reliable and sustainable policies"
He continued: "The result in the city of Salzburg is of course a downer. However, it is clearly an isolated result and shows that a lot is currently in motion. In the current turbulent times, governing parties are not having an easy time and populists are gaining ground again with their shortened answers. However, we are convinced that a centrist approach is the key to reliable and sustainable politics."

Linz Vice Hajart: "Regular voters are playing an increasingly minor role"
Martin Hajart, deputy city leader of Linz, is clear: "It is unmistakably clear that core voters are playing an increasingly minor role and that the electoral market is highly volatile. The top candidates are playing an increasingly important role, and Kay-Michael Dankl has shown what is possible."

The best-known communist in Upper Austria, Linz local councillor Gerlinde Grünn, sees an upward trend for the KPÖ: "The result in Salzburg shows that committed politics is recognized close to the people in elections."