Everything new in Salzburg

Edtstadler replaces Haslauer as head of the province

Stefan Schnöll becomes Deputy Governor, Edtstadler becomes Governor, Haslauer retires.

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

Big bang in Salzburg! What the "Krone" already reported becomes official today: Karoline Edtstadler, who is still Minister, replaces Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP). This ends the speculation surrounding his successor. 

Karoline Edtstadler or "crown prince" Stefan Schnöll? For months, the succession was the subject of speculation. As of today, it is officially clear: Edtstadler will succeed Wilfried Haslauer on July 2. As of February 13, she will already be managing party leader.

A press conference has been announced for 1 pm. Stefan Schnöll will therefore become Edtstadler's deputy. The Salzburg native had announced that she no longer wanted to be part of the next federal government. However, there was no mention of a move into Salzburg politics. Edtstadler actually wanted to open a law firm and move to the National Council. Schnöll's withdrawal as Haslauer's successor makes these plans obsolete and Edtstadler moves into the Chiemseehof.

However, her election as provincial governor must first be approved by her coalition partner, the FPÖ. Edtstadler needs a majority in the state parliament to take office. There was no reaction from the FPÖ for the time being.

Wilfried Haslauer (right) brought Marlene Svazek and the FPÖ into the state government.

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

Haslauer had been governor since 2013. He regained the seat as head of the state government from the SPÖ in an early election. This was triggered by the Salzburg financial scandal. After initially governing with the Greens and Team Stronach, a coalition with the Greens and Neos followed. He has been in government with the FPÖ since spring 2023. Contrary to what is often reported, he had never ruled out working with the blue party, but sharply criticized them during the election campaign. However, after major ÖVP losses and FPÖ gains, the black-blue coalition was quickly negotiated.

Schnöll joined the state government in 2018 and was long regarded as Haslauer's crown prince. Most recently, however, the end of the underground local railway extension S-Link in a referendum dealt the regional transport councillor a heavy political blow. The S-Link was considered Schnöll's prestige project.

Edtstadler is taking on a state political role as governor for the first time. In Salzburg, she was previously only politically active as a municipal representative in Henndorf am Wallersee. She was State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, briefly in the EU Parliament and most recently Minister for Europe and the Constitution. The former judge also worked briefly at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg before Sebastian Kurz brought her into federal politics.