The creation of the list is a top priority for the Freedom Party, but approval from the committees is still required.
Party leader Herbert Kickl had already presented Vilimsky as the top candidate in October, but without approval from the party committees. This will be made up for on Friday evening when the federal party executive committee and the much larger party leadership meet in Graz. However, only a board decision is absolutely necessary. They have to agree to the list; a result should not be available until late in the evening.
Unclear: Petra Steger
It is still unclear whether Petra Steger will run once more. She was third on the list in the last European elections in 2019, but rejected her mandate in favor of entering the National Council. In addition to Vilimsky, Mayer and Haider have been sitting for the Freedom Party in the EU Parliament since then. There is now speculation that Steger might run once more. The confidante of federal party chairman Herbert Kickl is the district party leader in Vienna-Meidling and is in dispute with the organization there.
According to surveys, the Blues might get one or two more mandates. At least one of the fourth and fifth places on the list will probably go to a woman, which might benefit Steger if she actually runs. Only Kickl, who created the list proposal, should know whether this is the case, as the party emphasized.
The next day, on Saturday, the traditional New Year’s meeting takes place in Premstätten on Schwarzlsee near Graz. In Styria, a new state parliament is scheduled to be elected in the fall. The FPÖ is of little benefit from a financial scandal involving the Graz Freedom Party and the pending investigations. In addition to party leader Kickl, state party chairman Mario Kunasek will also give a speech at the New Year’s meeting. Vilimsky will also speak briefly.
