Party in Free Fall

This Is How the Upper Austrian ÖVP Is Responding to the CDU’s Disaster in Germany

Hiegelsberger is keeping an eye on the CDU’s results.(Bild: Markus Wenzel)

The latest German state elections have also caught the attention of the Upper Austrian ÖVP. Party leader Florian Hiegelsberger sees lessons for Upper Austria—and for the 2027 election campaign—in the performance of its sister party, the CDU.

The elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, as well as the AfD’s strong showing two weeks ago in Saxony-Anhalt, are a warning sign for the Upper Austrian ÖVP. After all, Upper Austria will hold elections in a year—and here, too, the political balance of power could shift.

ÖVP state executive director Florian Hiegelsberger watched the collapse of the sister party, the CDU, and draws his own conclusions: “Mainstream parties must be careful not to always explain why the others are wrong, but rather to say what they themselves stand for.” In Saxony-Anhalt in particular, there was too much talk about who or what needed to be prevented. “But no one said what they themselves stand for,” the party manager told the “Krone.”

Similar to the situation in Germany, there is also dissatisfaction with federal politics here, “which is why we must sharpen our profile and our brand identity as a state party,” Hiegelsberger said.

He draws another lesson from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: There, the SPD, led by Minister-President Manuela Schwesig, managed to stage a strong comeback. Hiegelsberger sees a parallel with Upper Austria and party chairman Thomas Stelzer: “Trust in the person at the helm is also crucial.”