Deadline for submission ends

No party is on the ballot in all municipalities

On March 23, the whole of Styria, with the exception of Graz, can vote again.

(Bild: APA/BARBARA GINDL / APA / picturedesk.com)

All lists for the Styrian municipal elections on March 23 have been submitted - no one managed to run in all municipalities this time, and the ÖVP is also not represented in two municipalities this year. That is the starting position. 

Whether or not there will soon be elections at federal level is currently being discussed again behind the red screen door in the Hofburg. One thing is certain: With the exception of Graz, the next elections in Styria will take place on March 23. New municipal councillors will be elected.

The submission deadline ended on Friday afternoon. By the beginning of the week after next, once all the nominations have been checked, it should be clear where which lists will be running. Postal voters can already apply for absentee ballots, which are expected to be issued from the first week of March, according to Eva Möstl, Head of the Provincial Election Department.

And this is the starting position for the six parties represented in the state parliament.

282 Gemeinden

ÖVP tritt fast überall an

The ÖVP has made significant gains for five years: The party was boosted by Sebastian Kurz, and during the first corona phase, many mayors were able to prove themselves as crisis managers. The People's Party is currently at the top in 199 municipalities (a share of 70 percent!).

(Bild: Krone KREATIV)

With the exception of two municipalities (Gaishorn and Wildalpen, both in the district of Liezen), the ÖVP is running everywhere - five years ago it was still represented nationwide. In total, the party has more than 9000 candidates, including 2600 women. 30 of them are top candidates. The oldest candidate is 94 years old!

269 Gemeinden

SPÖ verteidigt wichtige Städte

The Social Democrats are on the ballot in 269 municipalities, but not in 15. There are candidates across the board in the districts of Bruck-Mürzzuschlag, Leoben, Graz-Umgebung and Voitsberg. A third of the 6300 candidates are female, their share has increased by four percent. "Running for office locally is a particular challenge for women in view of the double and multiple burdens of work, family and social demands as well as outdated role models," emphasizes Elisabeth Grossmann, Chairwoman of the Women's Party. More than 40 women are top candidates. 

The SPÖ has to defend absolute majorities in several prestigious cities, including Leoben, Leibnitz, Judenburg, Bruck an der Mur, Deutschlandsberg, Kapfenberg, Voitsberg and Mürzzuschlag. The SPÖ is also the mayor of the district capital Liezen. 

259 Gemeinden

FPÖ hofft auf Bürgermeister

After its victories in the national and provincial elections, the FPÖ is going into the next ballot with a broad chest. It is running in at least 259 municipalities and expects to make significant gains (2020, the year after "Ibiza", saw a steep decline) as well as having a chance of winning mayoral seats.

Specifically mentioned are Langenwang, Niklasdorf, Birkfeld and Heiligenkreuz am Waasen. Other municipalities in which the FPÖ believes it has a good chance include Kalwang, Stallhofen, Vasoldsberg, Semriach, St. Peter am Ottersbach and Bad Blumau.

104 Gemeinden

Grüne gewinnen neue Zuversicht

Many new members and candidates since the beginning of the year give the Greens new confidence. In Kumberg, for example, the list this year includes 40 people, in Frohnleiten there are 25. The Greens are running in 104 municipalities and in some cases have excellent results to defend from 2020, for example in Gleisdorf, Deutsch Goritz, Bad Aussee and Stattegg.

Election campaign costs

Some parties have named their election campaign costs: the Greens have budgeted a total of 400,000 euros, the FPÖ has 270,000 euros from the provincial party, the KPÖ has budgeted 180,000 euros and the Neos have budgeted around 250,000 euros.

34 Gemeinden

Obersteiermark als KPÖ-Kernland

The Communists are on the ballot in 34 municipalities, which is three fewer than in 2020. They are proud of their new candidacy in Weiz, but the focus is on the Mur-Mürz furrow. In the district capital of Leoben, for example, there are five seats, and veteran Werner Murgg, who resigned from parliament last year, is running again.

37 Gemeinden

Neos im Grazer Umland stark vertreten

The Neos are on the ballot in 37 municipalities instead of the previous 30, 13 in the Graz-Umgebung district alone. One newcomer is Laßnitzhöhe, where Helmut Siedl has switched from the Greens to the Pinks: "As a single but committed person on the local council, you can achieve more if you replace fundamental opposition with a more constructive approach."

Philipp Pointner (deputy state spokesperson for the Neos) with Helmut Siedl (Laßnitzhöhe), Jochen Kotschar (Hart bei Graz), Irnes Zehem, Birgit Stanonik (Deutschfeistritz), Johannes Putthapong (Premstätten) and Oliver Höller (Lieboch).

(Bild: Neos Steiermark)

Birgit Stanonik is also new to the Neos. Her candidacy in Deutschfeistritz was sparked by the severe flooding last year. "This disaster had a lasting impact on the people in our community - including me," says the newcomer. Because the corresponding measures in the state and municipality were not comprehensive enough for her, she took action herself. Using private funds, she commissioned a kilometer-long drone flight to record all the problematic areas in the stream bed and use this as a basis for countermeasures.