"Erdogan methods"

Turmoil in the Greens over the old party guard

Almost a side issue: Judith Pühringer was elected as the top candidate with 87.16 percent of the vote.

(Bild: Bartel Gerhard)

The confirmation of five long-serving local councillors temporarily plunged the party into chaos. Following a new election, Martin Margulies, who has been a member of the municipal council since 2001, has to resign. 

The Vienna Greens have regrouped for the upcoming state elections. Judith Pühringer is entering the race as the lead candidate and emphasized the need for a courageous and social Vienna in her speech. Her focus is on affordable housing, educational justice and a consistent climate policy. "Do we want a city that wants to return to a time when women were at the stove and men were in charge?" asked Pühringer. She made it clear that we need a Vienna "that rises up when the world tilts." She was particularly clear towards the SPÖ: "The SPÖ is resting on the legacy of Red Vienna. Vienna is many things, but Vienna is rarely courageous." The Neos did not escape unscathed either: "They talk a lot about reforms, but where is their education reform in Vienna? It doesn't exist." 

Kogler is not sparing with criticism of the new federal government
Federal party leader Werner Kogler used the stage for a general reckoning with his political rivals. "This state election is a directional election: Standstill or change. And I'm telling you: red needs green - otherwise nothing will move here!" The SPÖ is "sluggish, gray, stolid" and has no answers to the city's major challenges. He was even more critical of the NEOS: "They call themselves the Transparency Party - they are so transparent that you don't even notice them."

Aiming for the deputy mayor's seat
Pühringer made it clear that she has her sights set on the deputy mayor's office. "We will make Vienna climate-social. That is in my DNA!" She criticized the fact that the city government had not intervened despite rising energy prices: "The SPÖ could have done it - they messed it up." Pühringer has clearly formulated her goals: 3rd place and deputy mayor under Michael Ludwig (SPÖ). She could imagine urban planning, women or housing as possible portfolios. This commitment was rewarded by 87.16 percent of delegates.

"This spring will be green"
Pühringer and Kogler expressed their determination to position the Greens as a driving force in Viennese politics. "The SPÖ is hesitating, the NEOS are ducking away - we, on the other hand, have the solutions for Vienna," emphasized Pühringer. In the end, she made a clear statement: "This spring will be green!" At her side in list position 2 is Peter Kraus. Kraus: "The SPÖ will provide the next mayor, but the Viennese will decide with whom they form a coalition. The question is: will the standstill continue, will an ÖVP coalition even take us back to the concrete age of the 50s, 60s and 70s - or will we Greens move forward into a future where the city becomes greener and people's lives become easier?" 

Small green political revolution
However, the Greens themselves were responsible for a small political earthquake. As a reminder: David Ellensohn, Barbara Huemer, Jnnifer Kickert, Peter Kraus and Martin Margulis needed a two-thirds majority of the delegates to stand for re-election. This was actually a formality. Due to too many invalid votes, every single ballot was repeated. "We were unable to assign too many votes to the candidates," said the election commission. One delegate: "Better if it is checked more often. We don't want an Excel disaster here." But that was the end of the fun. The whole procedure caused a lot of bad blood and heated discussions. One delegate with Turkish roots said: "This reminds me of Erdogan's methods." This in turn led to further discussions, which were then stifled. 

One party member has to leave the municipal council
After a further five rounds of voting and counting, it was clear: Green Party veteran Martin Margulies was barred from standing. This means he will certainly not be on the next municipal council, which he has been a member of since 2011. Pühringer: "What is certain is that Martin Margulies will remain part of the Green family. We will certainly continue to rely on his economic expertise." What remains of the evening? For the Greens, there is certainly a sour aftertaste , as neither the exact result of the first round of voting for the five controversial candidates nor the results of the necessary new elections were communicated publicly.