A fuss about posters

Dispute over who can put up posters when and where

The FPÖ Mödling simply put up their posters in Wiener Neudorf. The SPÖ in Leobersdorf criticizes the premature election advertising by Liste Zukunft Leobersdorf.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/ZVG, SPÖ Leobersdorf/FPÖ Mödling)

Christmas wishes as election advertising, posters instead of billboards or simply putting up election posters in the neighboring community? During election campaigns, many things are criticized and every move made by opposing parties is monitored with suspicious eyes. Especially when it comes to advertising.

In Bad Vöslau, the Flammer list has just come up against two large SPÖ election posters. Mayor Christian Flammer is annoyed that the citizens should not be exposed to a flood of election posters during Advent. A gentlemen's agreement in this regard was reached in 2019.

Christmas wishes or election advertising after all?

For SPÖ city party chairman Stefan Rabits, however, these posters with Christmas wishes are not election advertising. "This is a nationwide campaign by the association of municipal representatives, over which we have no influence."

Mödling's FPÖ top candidate Harald Thau is fuming because his posters were removed in the neighboring town of Wiener Neudorf: "Mayor Herbert Janschka is disregarding basic rights and state laws - even the self-proclaimed local emperor is not above the law!" Janschka had also declared at the municipal council meeting that he would have all FPÖ and SPÖ election posters removed. Which he did, but only those of "non-local" parties. Janschka is now annoyed: "There has long been an agreement in Mödling that no election posters will be put up because it spoils the townscape," explains the mayor. He finds simply switching to the neighboring municipality and putting up posters there "brazen".

And in Leobersdorf, the SPÖ criticizes Liste Zukunft Leobersdorf, because it is also not adhering to the agreements made. Large billboards have already been erected in the local area. For Florian Detter from Liste Zukunft Leobersdorf, this is a question of interpretation: "The agreement reached in October only concerns poster stands, not billboards."