Election in Flachgau

Flachgau: New lists celebrate successes

Rupert Freundlinger (center) took off in Seekirchen. The LeSe list now has 9 seats.(Bild: Scharinger Daniel)

They called for change and won a considerable number of votes. In several ÖVP-dominated municipalities, new political groups are entering the municipal council.

The "Party Free Großgmain", founded a few months ago, won four seats in the Großgmain municipal council from a standing start. Bitter news for the local FPÖ (22.6 percent) and Deputy Mayor Marlene Svazek: they lost two seats, the same number as the ÖVP (32.5 percent).

ÖVP renegade from Großgmain gained 21 percent
The party independents celebrated the 21 percent they won with list founder Ingrid Scheucher-Neumüller. "The people of Großgmain want a breath of fresh air. The two major parties were very focused on each other," says Scheucher-Neumüller.

The people of Großgmain want a breath of fresh air.

Ingrid Scheucher-Neumüller, Parteifreie Großgmain

 Henndorfer around the ÖVP defector Günther Schackmann won five seats in their municipality: the "Team for Henndorf" won 19 percent of the vote. The ÖVP's absolute majority is a thing of the past. "Many citizens want change in our sleepy village," speculates the list founder. As in Großgmain (Martin Panzer), the ÖVP retained the chair as head of the village in Henndorf (Martin Köllersberger).

Green list has the same number of seats as the ÖVP
In Seekirchen, the pro-Green list LeSe (Lebenswertes Seekirchen) came level with the ÖVP (35.5 percent) with 32.8 percent. Both now hold nine seats each. Top candidate Rupert Freundlinger demands: "The ÖVP can no longer ignore this call for change. Seekirchen's infrastructure must finally be expanded."

KPÖ Plus moves into ÖVP stronghold
The KPÖ Plus (8.8 percent) won two seats from scratch in the black Wals-Siezenheim district on the issue of housing. Top candidate Katharina Gruber says: "Housing prices are insanely high. Local private developers are constantly getting contracts." The incumbent from the ÖVP, Andreas Hasenöhrl, remains head of the village.

In Elsbethen, the voter community for Elsbethen around Maria Steindl lost 4.6 percentage points and ended up with 23.1 percent. The new mayor will be ÖVP candidate Matthias Herbst.