Heated election

My God, Walter: Only 61.7 percent for Rosenkranz

Walter Rosenkranz is now officially First President of the National Council

(Bild: AFP)

The controversial FPÖ politician Walter Rosenkranz was elected First President of the National Council on Thursday afternoon. However, he only received 100 out of 162 valid votes in the vote during the constituent session of the National Council. This corresponds to 61.7 percent.

Peter Haubner (ÖVP) was elected Second President of the National Council with 88.1 percent (148 out of 168 valid votes), which corresponds to 88.1 percent. Doris Bures (SPÖ) was elected Third President (131 out of 175 valid votes).

43 mandataries from other parties voted for Rosenkranz
No less than 20 mandataries voted invalidly in the election of the First President of the National Council, one did not cast a vote. Of the valid votes, Rosenkranz received 100, which means that he received 43 from parties other than the FPÖ.

(Bild: AFP)

Walter Rosenkranz with FPÖ party leader Herbert Kickl

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

However, Rosenkranz' result is clearly below that of Wolfgang Sobotka five years ago (88 percent), but above that of Sobotka's first run (61.3).

26 votes for Hofer
26 votes were cast for the former Third President Norbert Hofer, who was no longer nominated by the Freedom Party but was sent to Burgenland as the top candidate. Bures was written down 23 times on the ballot paper. The Greens had announced that they would vote for her. Seven votes were apparently added to her 16 votes.

"Horror scenarios are inappropriate for me"
Rosenkranz was conciliatory in his inaugural speech. He said that he wanted to steer the fate of the House in constructive consultation with the other members of the Presiding Committee and that the members of the five parliamentary groups could always come to him with their concerns. He rejected "insinuations" that he could not convene meetings and thus hinder democracy: "Such horror scenarios are inappropriate for me."

Walter Rosenkranz was conciliatory in his inaugural speech.

(Bild: APA Pool/APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

"Continuing the fight against anti-Semitism"
Under his leadership, the fight against anti-Semitism will continue, said Rosenkranz, who is a member of a fraternity. After all, the President of the National Council is also Chairman of the National Fund for Victims of National Socialism. As far as Holocaust commemorations in parliament are concerned, Rosenkranz is prepared to step aside in favor of one of his deputies should his person be an obstacle.

He called on MPs to refrain from defamation and disparagement in debates. At the same time, he spoke out in favor of live broadcasts from committees of inquiry.

In the debate on the election, FPÖ parliamentary group leader Herbert Kickl said that it was not a matter of custom, but of taking the will of the voters into account. His group would also do this by supporting the candidates for Second President and Third President.

Wöginger chose Rosenkranz, Kogler did not
In contrast to ÖVP leader Karl Nehammer, the acting head of the party, August Wöginger, declared before the election that he would vote for Rosenkranz. He assumed that the majority of his club would do the same. All ÖVP mandataries did not respond to the call. This is because the FPÖ and ÖVP together have 108 votes. A categorical no to Rosenkranz came from Green Party parliamentary group leader Kogler.

Rosenkranz's membership of the German nationalist fraternity "Libertas" was criticized in particular. This is accused of being close to right-wing extremism.