The strong performance of the FPÖ in the state elections in Lower Austria not only cheers the PVV there, but also arouses hope among party members in Carinthia. Elections will be held on March 5 in Austria’s southernmost state, in the hope of also surfing the blue wave of success.
Like the ÖVP as the governing party in Lower Austria, the SPÖ in Carinthia is trying to limit the expected losses. And for the ÖVP it is important to stabilize at least at a low level.
Broad chest for FPÖ top candidate Angerer
FPÖ Carinthia boss and top candidate Erwin Angerer reacted with a big heart to the result, also saying that a result “that many do not expect” was also possible in Carinthia. Of course, not so big announcements came in the first reactions of the SPÖ and ÖVP. After all, the elections on March 5 will be all about Carinthia, according to the two coalition partners.
Now that the elections in Lower Austria are behind us, the one in Carinthia is less than five weeks away. Time that the parties still use for the intensive phase of the election campaign: The Greens and Team Carinthia were the first to officially start the election campaign, the SPÖ a little later with party leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner and the ÖVP behind closed doors . Next Friday, NEOS and FPÖ will enter the race, each with the support of federal party leaders Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Herbert Kickl.
SPÖ clearly ahead of FPÖ in polls
Reports on the outcome of the elections are rather mixed: the SPÖ, which is far behind in the polls, relies on large-scale mobilization and refers to the work of the past decade to minimize losses. The FPÖ, which is in second place according to polls, has claimed the provincial governor with Erwin Angerer, as has Team Carinthia with Gerhard Köfer, who will probably finish well behind the FPÖ on March 5. The ÖVP is particularly reserved.
Greens want to return to the state parliament
The question of who will be in the state parliament in addition to these four movements promises to be exciting. The Greens want to go back with the new top candidate Olga Voglauer, remained well below the 5 percent limit with 3.1 in 2018 and were expelled from the state parliament. The race around Janos Juvan is not getting any easier for NEOS, in 2018 2.1 percent was not enough for a first entry into the state parliament.
Cautious analysts also do not completely rule out the possibility that “Visie Austria” around the former MFG state spokesman Alexander Todor-Kostic could get a seat in the state parliament. The BZÖ, which is also part of the FBP (Free Citizens’ Party) under the name BFK (Alliance for Carinthia), should only be given a theoretical chance. In 2018, that was just enough for 0.4 percent.
SPÖ currently holds half of all seats in the state parliament
With 18 mandates, the SPÖ currently holds exactly half of the seats in the state parliament. With the six of the ÖVP there is exactly a two-thirds majority. FPÖ and Team Kärnten want to increase (currently nine and three mandates respectively). However, this is likely to get confused when the state parliament becomes more colorful again, i.e. the Greens, NEOS, Vision Austria or even all three move to the state parliament.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
