Luger resigned

“Didn’t fulfill my own expectations”

Klaus Luger announced his resignation on Friday, effective September 2.

(Bild: Wenzel Markus/Markus Wenzel)

Klaus Luger has been mayor of Linz for eleven years - his farewell speech only lasted a few minutes: He announced his resignation at a press conference called at short notice on Friday. The SPÖ politician, who stumbled over a chat affair in the Brucknerhaus case, is leaving on September 2.

With a serious expression on his face, but composed, Klaus Luger stepped in front of the microphones and cameras at 12 noon. He reiterated that he "deeply regretted his mistake". As reported, he had sent the hearing documents to the now dismissed Brucknerhaus director Dietmar Kerschbaum before his appointment and had told the untruth.

Party support "began to crumble"
Luger said that he was sorry to have disappointed so many people as a result. He had initially been grateful and impressed when the leaders of the Linz SPÖ had unanimously expressed their confidence in him on Wednesday. "However, in the course of yesterday I felt that this support was also beginning to crumble in this circle," Luger admitted on Friday. "I have therefore decided to step down as Mayor of the City of Linz. This will take effect on September 2, 2024."

Klaus Luger announced his resignation on Friday, effective September 2.

(Bild: Wenzel Markus/Markus Wenzel)

21 years in city politics
After ten years as a city councillor and eleven years as mayor, the feisty social democrat is thus stepping down from the political stage. In his statement, he also looked back on this time and highlighted in particular: "the solution to the swap dilemma, the expansion of infrastructure and bridges, the transformation of the industrial location, the establishment of pedagogically excellent children's education, the construction of two modern stadiums and setting the course for the expansion of public transport, which had been postponed for decades".

His wife Michaela Mader accompanied Klaus Luger to the farewell press conference.

(Bild: Wenzel Markus/Markus Wenzel)

No "model husband"
Luger then thanked his employees and his family. He had "not always been the model father and model husband" to his three children and his wife and had "not shown any particular commitment to running a household". Even in the past emotional days, his family had always been a great support to him.

"I'm really leaving without a grudge", Luger said in conclusion - this should be directed at himself in view of the lying affair in the Brucknerhaus case. Because: "I have not fulfilled my own expectations."

Recognition from Stelzer
Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) paid tribute to Luger in retrospect: the collaboration with him had "not always been free of friction". "However, we have created a good basis for cooperation over the years and achieved a lot for the people, for which I would like to express my thanks."

Designated successor speaks of a "new start"
City Councillor Dieter Prammer, who was unanimously nominated by the Linz SPÖ as Lugner's successor candidate, also paid tribute to the outgoing head of the city: with his retirement, "he is also clearly expressing that the well-being of the city of Linz and social democracy are more important to him than his own person. Thanks to Klaus Luger's great and far-sighted commitment to the city of Linz, we are standing on broad shoulders."

Now a "new start" is possible - with the aim of "continuing the successful path that has made the city of Linz a role model for many other cities in economic, social and, above all, future-oriented matters".