Only "grudgingly"

Svazek accepts Edtstadler as provincial governor

Marlene Svazek remains loyal to the state government.(Bild: Markus Tschepp)

The Salzburg ÖVP's decision that Karoline Edtstadler should succeed Governor Wilfried Haslauer in July has caught the co-governing FPÖ off guard. Marlene Svazek and Co. have therefore taken their time to decide whether to accept Edtstadler.

The coalition pact between the ÖVP and FPÖ is clear: Either continue as before, even with a new governor, or hold new elections. On Sunday evening, the FPÖ party committees finally made the decision, which was announced at lunchtime on Monday: The Blue Party will accept Karoline Edtstadler, albeit only "grudgingly" and with a conditional yes.

"The ÖVP must ask itself the question of credibility and reliability," says Marlene Svazek. After all, Stefan Schnöll was always communicated as the successor. Moreover, Edtstadler was never elected to the provincial parliament.

If the ÖVP had proposed a member of the current government, it would not have been a problem. With Edtstadler, however, it was different. For Svazek it is also clear: "It is also known that Edtstadler is part of a federal government that has brought us into a financial disaster."

Svazek does not see a friendly relationship with the future ÖVP leader. She considers Edtstadler's claims that they are friends to be presumptuous. "The emotional decision is clearly negative, but the rational decision is different," says Svazek.