Styrian SPÖ becomes new

Max Lercher elected party leader with 87 percent of the vote

Max Lercher with Hannes Schwarz (left), Doris Kampus and Jörg Leichtfried.(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Now it's official: the executive committee of the Styrian SPÖ elected Max Lercher as the designated party leader and successor to Anton Lang on Thursday. Lercher announced a "constructively critical" opposition course.

"Anton Lang worked in the background until the end to find solutions. I would like to say thank you for that." Max Lercher from Upper Styria began his first press statement as the designated leader of the Styrian Social Democratic Party with conciliatory words on Thursday. Lang, his predecessor, had resigned after a defeat in the regional elections and failed coalition talks with the FPÖ.

87 percent voted for him as chairman-designate. "I like to be called a party rebel by the media. I think it's because I like to call a spade a spade," said Lercher. "I know that I don't only have friends everywhere in my movement. I am aware of that." Hannes Schwarz is to remain club chairman. He was confirmed with 93 percent. "We have shown that we are capable of acting as social democrats in difficult times."

Lercher during his statement on Thursday(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

The election results could be blamed on poor communication, says Lercher, but that is not what he wants. 

He wants to "produce solutions without ideological blinkers. The concerns and needs of those who no longer trust us are our political program". The opposition does not want to be "bluntly against everything".

We no longer have credibility in many areas. That hurts me above all when I see the workers and women who vote pro-liberty.

Max Lercher, designierter steirischer SPÖ-Chef

Lang remains submerged
"We know what it means to be in the stranglehold of the ÖVP here and there. The FPÖ will now experience that too." Knowing how politics works, he does not believe that the government will do a good job or have the will to reform. If this does not happen - i.e. the FPÖ and ÖVP do not reach an agreement - the Social Democrats are ready for talks. 

The press statement on Thursday at the SPÖ Styria headquarters(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

"Critical and constructive in opposition" is the aim. Credibility is the most important thing.

Lercher was accompanied by the remaining provincial councillors Ursula Lackner and Doris Kampus, MEP Elisabeth Grossmann and club leader Schwarz. Lang did not appear before the press. None of those present wanted to give interviews.

Lang: "Important successes achieved"
Anton Lang bid farewell to politics with a post on Instagram: "In order to clear the way for the necessary renewal process of our party, I have decided to step down as provincial party chairman and not accept my mandate," wrote the Leoben native.

The "important successes" of the last provincial government included "significant improvements in children's education, affordable housing and the expansion of public transport".