Now red against blue

Mayoral election Linz

The run-off is now: SPÖ against FPÖ - Dietmar Prammer against Michael Raml.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/stock.adobe.com, Markus Wenzel)

A few months ago, a scandal surrounding SPÖ mayor Klaus Luger rocked Linz - on Sunday, the provincial capital chose who would succeed him and lead the city in the future. The result: SPÖ candidate Dietmar Prammer clearly wins ahead of FPÖ candidate Michael Raml. ÖVP candidate Martin Hajart only came third and did not make it into the run-off.

The final result in detail: SPÖ candidate Dietmar Prammer (SPÖ) achieved 40.2 percent - just three percentage points behind the election result of his predecessor Klaus Luger in the last mayoral election. Michael Raml (FPÖ) achieved 20.2 percent and is therefore in the run-off against Prammer. Martin Hajart (ÖVP) came third with 18.3 percent of the vote - a disappointment for the ÖVP. 

The run-off now pits the SPÖ against the FPÖ - Dietmar Prammer against Michael Raml.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/stock.adobe.com, Markus Wenzel)

Relief for the SPÖ
There was great relief among the SPÖ that the people of Linz did not punish the Reds despite the resignation of their mayor Klaus Luger due to the Brucknerhaus affair. The FPÖ was pleased to have made it into the run-off election for the office of mayor in Linz for the first time. The ÖVP, on the other hand, was disappointed to be out of the race. The Greens spoke of a respectable success.

Disappointed ÖVP
ÖVP candidate Deputy Mayor Martin Hajart was audibly disappointed with third place with 18.3 percent. The population had "trusted two candidates more" than him, which was "to be respected, the voter is always right". Of course, the "national political situation did not provide a tailwind, but of course I take responsibility". He will not be making a recommendation for the run-off election between red and blue.

You were there with krone.at throughout election day - you can read the ticker here!

The most important facts in brief:

• All votes have been counted: Didi Prammer (SPÖ) gets 40.2 percent, Michael Raml (FPÖ) 20.2 percent. Behind the duo is Martin Hajart (ÖVP) with 18.3 percent. They are followed by Eva Schobesberger (Greens) with 13 percent, Lorenz Potocnik (linzplus) with 3.6 percent, Gerlinde Grünn (KPÖ) with 2.4 percent and Georg Redlhammer (NEOS) with 2.3 percent. 
• The election is over, the run-off in two weeks is red against blue - Dietmar Prammer against Michael Raml.
• Election winner Prammer himself was surprised by the result: "I am very satisfied and very humble, this clear result was not to be expected", he said in an initial reaction.
• The election in Linz was the first ballot after the failure of the government negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS and took place because Klaus Luger had to step down as mayor last summer.
• Seven candidates stood for election. Voter turnout was low: not even one in two eligible voters went to the polls.

• Who knows Linz best? The "Krone" invited all candidates to the big Linz quiz in advance. Test here how much you would have known.

Election day in the krone.at ticker:

Results of the last mayoral election
Looking back: In the last mayoral election in Linz in 2021, Klaus Luger (SPÖ) won with 43.7 percent of the vote ahead of Bernhard Baier (ÖVP) with 16.4 percent, Eva Schobesberger (Greens) with 14.6 percent and Markus Hein (FPÖ) with 12 percent.