"Read a book ..."

Upper Austrian SPÖ leader Lindner wants to resign

Michael Lindner has led the SPÖ Upper Austria since 2022, but that is now over.

(Bild: APA/WERNER KERSCHBAUMMAYR)

Earthquake in the SPÖ: On Friday evening, there were already growing indications that the Upper Austrian party leader Michael Lindner (41) was about to resign. Even before the actual press conference, a video message was published on Saturday in which the politician explained his reasons for resigning.

Upper Austria's SPÖ chairman Michael Lindner is retiring from politics. He spoke about why he is doing this at a press conference at the Social Democrats' headquarters in Linz on Saturday. Hours earlier, on Friday evening to be precise, the reports had already been coming thick and fast before the "Krone" received unofficial confirmation from party circles.

The politician finally addressed the public in a video message on Saturday afternoon:

Roman was the deciding factor
Lindner is primarily concerned with his two sons, for whom he wants to be there. However, a book that he had already read at the beginning of the year was also decisive for his decision: "Die Wut, die bleibt" by Mareike Fallwickl - a novel about the burden that is placed on women. The book made him rethink his position.

Lindner made the decision together with his wife, he emphasized. He had wanted to wait for the National Council elections - but it was not a decision against politics, but for his children.

Stöger takes over business
Lindner is leaving as head of the SPÖ at the end of the month, but will remain a state councillor for the time being - until the party has made a decision. According to reports, former member of the National Council Alois Stöger will then take over the party, but only as an interim solution.

After all, there is a provincial election to beat in 2027. The 64-year-old would certainly not be an announcement for a renewal of the party. However: SPÖ veteran Stöger is regarded as highly experienced and has held the highest offices in the state - for example as Minister of Transport, Minister of Health and Minister of Social Affairs.

Alois Stöger (64) is to stand in for Michael Lindner.

(Bild: APA/HANS PUNZ)

Michael Lindner has led the SPÖ Upper Austria since 2022, but this is now coming to an end.

(Bild: APA/WERNER KERSCHBAUMMAYR)

Who will then stand as the SPÖ's top candidate in the front row is now being discussed intensively within the party. Specifically on Monday, when the provincial party executive is regularly convened - "only now the agenda is likely to change accordingly", said a member of this committee to the "Krone" on Saturday morning.

With closest friends from the party in the USA
Apparently, the 41-year-old had been toying with the idea of withdrawing for some time, but it was still unclear on Saturday morning what the decisive reason for this was. Unofficially, it was said that family reasons had tipped the scales in his favor. However, those familiar with the Upper Austrian SPÖ also know that Lindner was not very happy with the course taken by SPÖ chairman Andreas Babler. He assured him of his support, but only when Hans-Peter Doskozil stopped taking massive shots at the leaders of the federal SPÖ.

Lindner's departure is the second resignation of a prominent Social Democrat in Upper Austria in a short space of time: it was only at the end of August that Linz Mayor Klaus Luger, who is also powerful and influential in the provincial party, announced his resignation. He is known to have stumbled across chats with former Brucknerhaus director Dietmar Kerschbaum, to whom he had sent questions for a hearing in advance.