Politics unofficial

S-Link no vote puts Auinger in first place

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

Skepticism about the billion-euro project benefited the red deputy mayor. Kreibich will probably remain in the city government despite a large ÖVP deficit. Citizens' list saves city council seat.

They say there are no sensations in soccer. So what happened yesterday at Mirabell Palace? In any case, the communist takeover failed to materialize. Of course, the KPÖ-plus result is still something of a sensation. But the fact that Bernhard Auinger confidently led the SPÖ to first place in the mayoral election and in the municipal council surprised many political observers. The reasons? Auinger's clear "no" to the S-Link certainly played a major role. "Especially among older voters", as one high-ranking red campaigner put it. The city councillor has learned from the election defeat in 2019 and the late decision to block the Neutor at the time. Auinger committed himself early on, against all other parties, and stuck to his position. And the red leader has committed the city party to the election campaign. The SPÖ ran for their party leader.

For the ÖVP, the S-Link, which did not provide a tailwind, was joined by a late start for Florian Kreibich as mayoral candidate, eight months before the election. "His move to the city government at the beginning of February also came too late," says a high-ranking Black politician. This is why there is hardly any criticism of Kreibich within the party. If the neo-deputy mayor makes good on his announcement on election night and wants to join the city government, few discussions are to be expected.

Kay-Michael Dankl was able to improve on his sensational result from the state election in the city (21.5 percent), both in the municipal council and in the mayoral election. He did not stand out in the election campaign with pithy slogans. That wasn't necessary, he earned the trust he has built up in recent years on the issue of housing. The run-off election will be a tricky task for Dankl, despite his narrow deficit. After all, there are many conservative votes for Auinger to pick up in two weeks' time. At Mirabell Palace, representatives of the ÖVP and FPÖ were already half-recommending Auinger in the run-off.

Citizens' List leader Anna Schiester secured the city council post for her party.

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

The race for fourth place and thus for the last city councillor position was very close. While the Citizens' List got off with a proverbial black eye and has now been in the city government since 1992, the FPÖ was outwardly delighted with the gain and one more seat. Secretly, however, the blue party had high hopes for the city council post.