New managing director

She is to bring order back to the regional SPÖ

From deputy to leader: Nicole Trudenberger becomes the new SPÖ regional managing director(Bild: MecGreenie Production oG)

Just one day after SPÖ regional managing director Florian Koppler announced his resignation, his successor has already been appointed: 29-year-old Nicole Trudenberger is taking over the reins of the Social Democrats. However, it remains to be seen who will replace Alois Stöger as interim party leader.

Florian Koppler's departure as party manager of the local Social Democrats did not necessarily come as a surprise, but the timing did: Koppler announced his departure just one day after Dietmar Prammer's electoral triumph in the mayoral elections in Linz. As reported, the 36-year-old is leaving for the private sector.

Second departure at the top of the SPÖ
The move comes two months after Michael Lindner made his resignation as party leader public. Since then, former minister Alois Stöger has been entrusted with the search for Lindner's successor. The red veteran is taking his time, fueling speculation that he has come to stay - also as a state councillor. Lindner will remain in this position until a successor has been found.

Deputy moves up
The SPÖ reacted more quickly than in the search for a party leader when it came to appointing a manager. Nicole Trudenberger was presented as Florian Koppler's successor at an extraordinary board meeting convened at short notice on Tuesday. "I am delighted to be taking over the management of the SPÖ Upper Austria. The Upper Austrian SPÖ has a solid organizational, personnel and financial basis - we are well positioned," said Trudenberger in an initial statement. 

Young power woman
In contrast to the 64-year-old Stöger, the current Deputy Managing Director can be seen as a sign of rejuvenation. At 29, the doctor and graduate is seven years younger than Koppler. She heads the Renner Institute Upper Austria and has been a local councillor and parliamentary group leader in her home municipality of Niederwaldkirchen since 2021.

Trudenberger has also been Chairwoman of the SPÖ Women in the Rohrbach district since 2023. She was also the top candidate in the National Council elections. She can "seamlessly take over the business of the regional party", emphasizes the Mühlviertel native.