The end result of the mayoral elections is clear: the SPÖ gets eight of the twelve possible local leaders, three go to the ÖVP and one to a citizens list.
After the SPÖ had started the day with victories in Loipersdorf-Kitzladen, Frankenau-Unterpullendorf and St. Andrä am Zicksee, the successful run continued in the afternoon. In the Neusiedl district, there were two more victories for the SPÖ. In Apetlon Silvia Pitzl won with 50.8% of the incumbent Ronald Payer (ÖVP) and in Weiden am See Heinrich Hareter clearly defeated the previous Deputy Mayor Christian Wandler (ÖVP) with 57.7% of the vote.
The tightest decision of the day was taken in Forchtenstein: Alexander Rüdiger Knaak (SPÖ) won with 50.1 percent of the vote. His lead over ÖVP opponent Josef Neusteurer was five full votes.
In Mörbisch, 60 percent of the votes went to Bettina Zentgraf of the SPÖ. She replaces Markus Binder (ÖVP) as mayor: “I had a really good feeling during the day, because I got a lot of encouragement from the voters and I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Gerold Stagl (SPÖ) also managed to defend his mayor chairman in Rust with 54.9 percent against Georg Seiler (ÖVP).
In Deutschkreutz – where the result was eagerly awaited – ÖVP Mayor Andreas Kacsits won with 50.6% and a lead of 26 votes. “We have five challenging years ahead of us. Now we want to get the best out of Deutschkreutz with all groups,” said the incumbent.
Cheering at the SPÖ, “Not a good day” for the ÖVP
After the municipal elections, the SPÖ now has 95 mayors, the ÖVP 71 and five citizen lists. “This very gratifying result is really incredible,” said Governor Hans Peter Doskozil in a first reaction. “Today’s election results are historic for social democracy and we are very happy,” said state manager Roland Fürst.
The ÖVP, on the other hand, was disappointed: “Just like three weeks ago, today there were positive results again, in addition to very close and painful losses. Unfortunately, today is not a good day for the People’s Party,” said ÖVP chairman of the state party Christian Sagartz. Global crises troubling the population, a single government of the SPÖ that has challenged its full omnipotence and the headwinds currently blowing against the ÖVP have not left their mark.
Source: Krone
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