“Loyal Party Soldier” – Political Scientist: If the “3” Stands, Mattle Won’t Fall

“I assume that Mattle will then get a fair chance within the party,” Pelinka told the APA. He considers a result of less than 30 percent for the ÖVP “unlikely”. Although polls recently predicted this.

“Disaster Squared”
In any case, Mattle would not survive the latter politically and therefore would not end up in the governor’s seat, because it would be a “catastrophe” for the Tyrolean ÖVP, explained Pelinka, who worked for decades at the University of Innsbruck and not at least because of that, is also an intimate connoisseur of Tyrolean politics -Landscape. The “3” for the result has now become a “strong symbol” in the public debate over the ÖVP execution, Pelinka justified his verdict.

A loss of the relative majority, so in the first place, would, according to the political expert, “not be a catastrophe, but a catastrophe squared”. However, it is “very unlikely” that this will happen.

“I assume Mattle has enough faith in the party. The party knows it will lose votes and mandates. A 30 percent result will be presentable, so Mattle will get away with it for now. Such a crash cannot be interpreted as a catastrophe, but will rather be presented as an avoidance, as a relative success, then he will probably initially be given a free hand within the party to form a government,” the political scientist continues.

“Loyal Party Soldier”
Mattle’s advantage is also that he is seen in the ÖVP as a “loyal party soldier” who made himself available in a very difficult situation. Moreover, Pelinka currently saw no one in such a constellation who could really intrude and Mattle could be dangerous. The sometimes-trafficked chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Walser, is said to be “not necessarily party loyal”, not least because of various media statements.