ÖVP defeat in the city

Election loser is combative, thinks about 2029

The ÖVP front man suffered an election defeat during his first candidacy: "We made mistakes!"(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

ÖVP loses city leader seat, offer to resign as a consequence: Nevertheless, 54-year-old Florian Kreibich sees the election defeat as a personal political kick-off.

The first seven months of the election campaign and the resounding defeat on Sunday have left their mark on Florian Kreibich. The lawyer, hotel owner and tennis club president sat calmly in his office in Mirabell Palace the day after losing the seat of city leader for the ÖVP, admitting: "Normally I sleep well, but that wasn't the case," said the successor to Harry Preuner, who also "hit his back" during gymnastics exercises in the middle of last week.

The day after the election: Kreibich is already hatching new plans.(Bild: Valentin Snobe)

Down 19.7 percent on 2019, 27 votes short of a ninth seat on the municipal council, third place behind the SPÖ and KPÖ: the energetic 54-year-old had to take a lot of hits in a short space of time. Governor Haslauer's "Cheer up, Flo" sounds like a gesture of sympathy. Kreibich will also offer his resignation to the party committees.

However, the businessman was not just drawn when he spoke to the "Krone" newspaper on Monday morning - the new and old deputy mayor wants to get off to a flying start. "Historically speaking, the results are actually good," said Kreibich, referring to the pre-Sebastian-Kurz results of the Blacks in the city.

For me, the planning and transport departments are key positions for urban development, I would like to keep them, there are tasks ahead of us. And I'm also thinking about 2029.

Florian Kreibich, Stadt-ÖVP

"For me, the planning and transport departments are key positions for urban development, I want to keep them, there are tasks ahead of us. And I'm also thinking about 2029. Of course we made mistakes during the election campaign, but not the one big one. The fact is that in seven months I and my team have not been able to achieve the level of popularity of Auinger (SPÖ, note) and Dankl (KPÖ Plus). Of course, there is still a lot to learn in general, but I am willing to do so."

Top man denies split in city ÖVP
Kreibich admits that the ÖVP has a credibility problem and that not everything went well during the election campaign. "But there is no question of a split within the party. Harry Preuner and I are very good friends." Who would the black leader now like to see as mayor? "I'm not making an election recommendation, our voters are mature enough."