"Krone" analysis

Who fears and rejoices after Doskozil’s victory

Andreas Babler, who has just stumbled out of the government negotiations, will no longer be able to escape criticism from Eisenstadt ...

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Austria's last absolute may have been narrowly lost, but Hans Peter Doskozil clearly remains governor. This means early political retirement for Norbert Hofer and nothing good for the federal and Viennese SPÖ.

Let's call it a luxury defeat: Hans Peter Doskozil may have lost a few percentage points, but he remains the clear and certain governor of Burgenland. That alone counts. He will have the tiny Greens to thank for that. The mini-opposition party, which traditionally tills difficult ground in the easternmost federal state, manages to enter the state parliament and thus prevents the FPÖ and ÖVP from gaining an absolute majority of seats; the gains of the Freedom Party and the losses of the ÖVP were expected and are almost in line with expectations. Norbert Hofer's triumphant victory at home did not come to pass, but he at least managed second place.