Turmoil before the election

Sawing at the chair of the district leader in Vienna

Silvia Jankovic became district leader five years ago - now she is to be replaced.(Bild: BV 5 / Mallinger)

Just in time for elections, the SPÖ in Margareten regularly causes a stir. This time the post of district leader in Vienna's 5th district is to be reallocated, but the incumbent Silvia Jankovic is not vacating it voluntarily. 

There was already a dispute within the SPÖ about the post of district leader at the election five years ago. Susanne Schaefer-Wiery vacated the post voluntarily at the time, but caused irritation when she left the party and voted for the Greens. Even five years later, there is apparently still no peace in the red district organization. And with the early elections, Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) has apparently also surprised his own party in some places.