After seven years

Kapfenberg: Mayor resigns unexpectedly

It came suddenly: SPÖ veteran Fritz Kratzer announced on Thursday that he would be stepping down as mayor of Kapfenberg. It has already been decided who will succeed the 69-year-old.

The first text message after the official announcement at a press conference on Thursday morning came from the family: "Leonie will be happy".

Leonie is Kratzer's six-year-old granddaughter. He is particularly looking forward to spending more time with her, he said in an initial reaction to "Krone".

Three-month transition period
Before that, however, the 69-year-old wants to hand over his work in an orderly fashion: "I am in the fortunate position of having two suitable candidates for the office of mayor. After my first deputy mayor finally declined due to time constraints, Matthäus Bachernegg will succeed me.

I don't believe in leaving shortly before or after an election. Now, after a three-month transition period, my successor will have another year to make his own mark.

Fritz Kratzer

The official course will be set today at the municipal council meeting: Bachernegg, previously a city councillor, will be sworn in as first deputy mayor. Melanie Löffler-Praxmaier relinquishes her office as first deputy, but remains social councillor.

New steelworks as a highlight
Kratzer himself was red deputy mayor for five years before he became mayor in 2017. His first highlight immediately after taking office was the ground-breaking ceremony for the world's most modern steelworks on the Böhler site.

Why is he calling it a day now? "I'm simply at the right age for it. A lot has been achieved, now it's time for a change," says Kratzer. The "intensive training" for Bachernegg will now take place by the end of June, "from then on at the latest I'll be gone."

Good election results
He would be particularly grateful "for the great trust that the people have placed in me." He had always been in favor of clarity and straightforwardness - and he wanted to keep it that way until the end.