The party announced this in a press conference on Wednesday. The list will be elected at a state assembly next February. Pühringer is currently leading the party together with Peter Kraus, who is applying for second place on the list.
The Pühringer-Kraus duo has been in office since May 202. Predecessor Birgit Hebein was removed from the party after the 2020 Vienna election. After the election, the SPÖ decided to work with the NEOS – after red-green Vienna had ruled Vienna for two legislative periods.
The 2020 election result was certainly positive for the Greens. They were able to achieve their best result to date with 14.8 percent. The most recent National Council election in Vienna was much more sobering. The Eco Party lost 8.4 percentage points. It came in fourth place with 12.3 percent, just ahead of the NEOS.
What are the key challenges facing the Green Party in the upcoming Vienna state assembly elections?
Good evening, and welcome back to the show. Tonight, we’re discussing the upcoming Vienna state assembly elections and the local Green Party’s leadership. Joining us is political analyst Dr. Maria Schmidt to shed some light on this important event.
Dr. Schmidt, the Green Party recently announced their election list, with incumbent leader Christoph Pühringer at the helm. What can you tell us about the party’s strategy going into this election?
**(Dr. Schmidt):** Well, it’s interesting to see Pühringer leading the charge again. He and his co-leader Peter Kraus have been at the helm since 2020, navigating a somewhat tumultuous political landscape. The Greens saw a significant surge in support after the previous election, jumping from 12.3% to a whopping 14.8%. [[web search result snippet]]However, the most recent National Council elections were less kind, with the party dropping 8.4 percentage points.
This election will be a real test for the Pühringer-Kraus duo. They’ll need to rebuild momentum and convince voters that they can continue to be a strong voice for environmental and social justice issues in Vienna. The Greens will likely focus on issues like climate change, housing affordability, and social equity in their campaign.
**(Host):** And what about the Green Party’s partnership with the SPÖ, the Social Democratic Party? How will that dynamic play into the upcoming election?
**(Dr. Schmidt):** That’s a crucial aspect indeed. The SPÖ-Green coalition has been ruling Vienna for two legislative periods now, marking a significant shift from the previous ‘red-green’ governments. The success or failure of this coalition could have a lasting impact on the future of Viennese politics.
Interestingly, the last SPÖ leader, Birgit Hebein, was removed from the party after the 2020 election. [[web search result snippet]]This highlights the internal dynamics and challenges the Greens face within this coalition.
**(Host):** Dr. Schmidt, thank you for sharing your insights. This is definitely an election to watch closely. We’ll be following it closely here on the show.
**(Dr. Schmidt):** My pleasure. It’s sure to be a fascinating race.
