“Krone” analyzed the mood a week after the elections in Styria

A week ago the Styrians made their decision in the state elections – now it is the turn of the FPÖ with its top candidate Mario Kunasek: the decision with whom the first blue state governor will jointly govern Styria is imminent. The mood within the FPÖ and within the FPÖ – it couldn’t be better.

The editorial staff of “Steirekrone” has been continuously investigating the mood for the parties in the country lately. We listened less to polling and more to voices across the country. And – let us praise ourselves – we are in a good position…

The first trend needs to be confirmed
In the first mood barometer “Krone” at the beginning of October we headlined: “Styrian Blues are Hard to Stop – and at the same time pointed out: “ÖVP and SPÖ in the low end”.

The same thing happened last Sunday. So a week after these historic elections, which gave the Green Mark a blue state governor, we summarize the mood for all parties represented in the state parliament – ​​of course with the election results as a basis, but taking into account the reactions in the individual parties and what happens in the week after the election.

The blue flight is – what else? – can only be represented by the barometer maximum. More is not possible: the elections were won by a landslide, with an even better result than all pollsters had expected from the FPÖ. A coalition against the Blues would theoretically be possible with three parties – but the losing parties in this country, unlike the federal government, do not even dare to think about it.

Expelled from the political feeding trough
Because blacks and reds, who both reached historic lows during the elections, have to lick their deep wounds. One of the two parties will be allowed to play stirrup support for the Blues, the other will be driven out of the political breeding ground altogether. Why do we give the SPÖ a slightly better mood rating than the ÖVP? Because she didn’t fall from the governor’s height, but ‘only’ from the deputy position. And give it much better chances of becoming a vice party again than the ÖVP.

But it can also be the other way around – and the mood among the Reds is completely in the cellar.

In any case, the editorial staff of “Steirekrone” continues to explore the atmosphere!

The Styrian Freedom Party has achieved the greatest success in its history: the arrow on the voting barometer points all the way to the right! And so the “Kunibär” also shone on the victory cake with Mario Kunasek, Herbert Kickl and the blue fans. Despite the big celebration, they did not turn blue on Monday – thus symbolizing the Styrians’ sense of responsibility and sovereignty. Observers from other factions also stated that Mario Kunasek had met the election losers on equal terms despite his victory. The Blues also show discipline: the negotiations take place in secret and nothing is allowed to leak. The victory did not surprise the FPÖ; they had been preparing for day X for months. There are still exciting days ahead.

November 24 marks a turning point in the history of the once proud Styrian People’s Party. The unthinkable could soon become reality: after the worst result ever in a state election, the ÖVP is in danger of being expelled from government for the first time. Christopher Drexler should prevent this. Many black people must have thought all kinds of things. Only a few have said this openly – like the Economic Association – other snipers didn’t dare take cover even after this election debacle. And so Drexler was unanimously trusted to have conversations with Mario Kunasek. For the current head of the country, it is also about his own future. If he fails, he will go down in ÖVP history – and not necessarily in a positive way.

Anton Lang has obviously seen better days than election Sunday, and you could see his disappointment at the bitter defeat. When he appeared after the state party’s executive committee on Monday, the SPÖ leader was able to smile again. It was noticeable that a burden had been lifted from his shoulders, because his comrades had expressed their confidence in him. Even in the days that followed there was no criticism of him personally. The red leadership does not really care about the protest of the SPÖ youth about the talks with the FPÖ; the weight of this group within the party is simply too low. Now it is about showing unity against the PVV, to be seen as an assessable coalition partner – and then to get the ‘yes’ on the ‘marriage proposal’.

The Greens have landed on the bitter ground of political reality: after heavy losses, they are represented in the state parliament with only three instead of six members. As a result, the party must also become leaner in its structures, but details were not yet available this week. Club chairman Sandra Krautwaschl received a vote of confidence on Tuesday. What gives us food for thought internally: Externally, the party was usually only associated with the environmental issue, although its content was actually broader – and it tried to communicate that too. People in Styria would also have wanted new leadership at federal level to have taken place more quickly after the electoral defeat in September, which will not take place until 2025;

Besides the FPÖ, there was only one party that could celebrate a win on election night: the Neos. Even though the increase of 0.6 percentage points was small, the euphoria among the Pinks is great because the goal has been achieved: a third mandate in the state parliament! However, for party leader Niko Swatek, who has conducted a committed and flawless election campaign, it is a victory without resources, because the weak performance of the ÖVP and SPÖ makes a three-party coalition such as in the federal government not possible. a problem. Instead of a place in government, he will have to wait another five years in opposition. And there, if the ‘candy coalition’ comes into the federal government, Swatek can no longer act only as an aggressor, but will probably also have to take responsibility for unpopular measures in Vienna.

Claudia Klimt-Weithaler’s desperation became clear on election Sunday when she came to the ‘Krone’ elephant round at the Old University: the KPÖ was in danger of being expelled from the state parliament. Only the Graz result ultimately saved the communists and probably the political survival of the top candidate. The surveys predicted dark red highs, especially at the beginning of the year. But the state elections have proven that for the communists, trees do not grow to the sky. The current weather situation (recession, many people are worried about their jobs) would be predestined for the KPÖ. But in most districts the celebration goes unnoticed and remains a local phenomenon.