Who succeeds now

Drumbeat: Franz Titschenbacher about to resign

Franz Titschenbacher, President of the Chamber of Agriculture, is stepping down from all functions. Simone Schmiedtbauer (2nd from left) and Andreas Steinegger (right) will succeed him.(Bild: Nadja Fuchs)

Styrian Chamber President Franz Titschenbacher is stepping down from the top of the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture as well as from his position as regional chairman of the Farmers' Association. The Upper Styrian made the surprising announcement on Thursday. The successors have already been chosen.

"It's time to hand over the farm", said Franz Titschenbacher on Thursday at a press conference called at short notice. The native of Schladming, who runs a farm in Irdning-Donnersbachwald with his wife, has been President of the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture since 2013. He no longer wishes to take part in the next election in January 2026: "I have always pursued my work with great joy and passion. I turned 60 last year and I've been in public office for a very long time now, so it's important to me that a new course can be set in good time."

On January 7, Titschenbacher invited guests to the Chamber of Agriculture's New Year's reception, and there was still no talk of resigning. Instead, he tried to build a bridge to the new state governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) and asked for good cooperation. He was audibly more skeptical about a possible blue-black federal government. 

The two successors: Simone Schmiedtbauer and Andreas Steinegger.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/Scheriau, Neues Land/Bauernbund)

It will be official in March
At the next plenary meeting of the Chamber of Agriculture on March 14, Titschenbacher will hand over his position to Leoben District Chamber Chairman Andreas Steinegger. The 54-year-old organic dairy farmer and forester from Niklasdorf brings "a lot of experience" with him.

Titschenbacher's role as Chairman of the Styrian Farmers' Association, which he took over a year and a half ago from Hans Seitinger, the now deceased State Councillor for Agriculture, will also be placed in new hands. For the first time in the 125-year history of the Farmers' Union, a woman will hold the office in the person of Provincial Councillor Simone Schmiedtbauer. This step will be officially taken on March 25.