"Successful race to catch up"

Despite heavy losses: ÖVP holds on to Nehammer

ÖVP Secretary General Christian Stocker, Minister for Women's Affairs Susanne Raab and Club Leader August Wöginger at the party headquarters in Vienna(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

Despite heavy losses for the ÖVP, General Secretary Christian Stocker has spoken of a "successful race to catch up". There will be no internal party consequences. The party leader and Chancellor Karl Nehammer will continue to lead the party into the National Council elections.

If you look at the polls, the ÖVP started from third place, but is now ahead of the SPÖ and behind the FPÖ in second place, Stocker emphasized.

"Lopatka and his team have fought"
According to Stocker, the result is not a cause for celebration, but is nevertheless "respectful". Lopatka and his team had fought. After all, the ÖVP had "started from zero" after the events of recent years.

"Race to catch up started"
 One thing is certain: the party leader, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, will also go into the National Council elections, Stocker told ORF about any personnel consequences of the result. "We have started a race to catch up today so that we are number one in September," Stocker emphasized.