If you have good cards – the battle for Ehmann’s successor has begun

A Sunday, in the middle of the holiday season, where no political surprises were to be expected, started with a bang: as the “Krone” revealed, Michael Ehmann, head of the Graz SPÖ, will hand over the party chairmanship after the summer. The 47-year-old’s retirement is likely to take place in October.

“Many expressions of solidarity”
The report caused a lot of excitement – in other media houses and especially in the Styrian political landscape. Hectic phone calls followed in Graz Town Hall and one or two politicians even had to pick up their mobiles while on holiday. “After the ‘Krone’ article I got a lot of expressions of solidarity via Facebook, I got a lot of text messages and phone calls from friends and companions. But I stick to my plans,” Ehmann told “Krone” after a few turbulent hours.

Graz has been a problem child for the state of SPÖ for years. When Wolfgang Riedler and Elke Edlinger faced each other in 2010, the then party leader Franz Voves sprang into action. Both opponents had to withdraw from the field. It is bitter for today’s red chairman, Anton Lang, that the Social Democrats are no longer represented in the Senate of the city of Graz. Alfred Stingl was even the mayor for years.

“Good coordination with the state party”
Michael Ehmann narrowly managed to get back into town hall in last year’s municipal elections, but put an end to internal party disputes – thus preparing the field well for the new party leader. “SPÖ Graz is an important pillar of social democracy. Therefore, the steps to be taken in the coming months will also be taken in close coordination with the state party,” SPÖ state manager Günter Pirker announces.

Surprisingly, the staff carousel starts spinning
After several resignations of federal politicians and mayors of Styria this year, the staff carousel in the Graz SPÖ is surprisingly starting to spin. As reported, the three councilors Anna Robosch, Daniela Schlüsselberger and Manuel Lenartitsch are promising successors.

However, Doris Kampus, Minister of Social Affairs, also has good cards. She is Grazer SPÖ women’s chairman and already Ehmann’s deputy. She behaved inconspicuously on Sunday and could not be reached for comment.