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 factors contributed to the Greens’ decline in support during the recent National Council election?
## Interview: Vienna Greens Choose Pühringer to Lead City Elections
**Host:** Joining us today to discuss the Green Party’s candidate selection for the upcoming Vienna elections is political analyst Dr. Sarah Schmidt. Welcome to the show, Dr. Schmidt.
**Dr. Schmidt:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** The Greens recently announced that Christoph Pühringer will be their leading candidate. What do you make of this decision? [[1](https://www.vienna.at/puhringer-will-run-as-the-green-partys-leading-candidate-in-the-vienna-election/9080800)]
**Dr. Schmidt:** This is a significant move for the Greens. Pühringer has been co-leading the party with Peter Kraus since 2020, and their selection indicates a desire for continuity and a focus on experience.
**Host:** You mentioned the 2020 election. The Green’s achieved a remarkable 14.8 percent that year. However, their performance in the recent National Council election was less impressive, dropping to 12.3 percent.
**Dr. Schmidt:** Absolutely. The Greens will be looking to regain some of that lost ground in the upcoming Vienna elections. Pühringer’s performance as a campaign leader will be crucial in achieving that.
**Host:** What are the biggest challenges facing the Greens in Vienna?
**Dr. Schmidt:** The Greens face a dynamic political landscape. The SPÖ and NEOS coalition, which formed after the 2020 election, presents a strong challenge. The Greens will need to articulate a clear and compelling vision for Vienna’s future to resonate with voters.
**Host:** what are your expectations for the Vienna elections?
**Dr. Schmidt:** It’s going to be a highly contested race. While the Greens hope to regain some momentum, the outcome will hinge on their ability to connect with voters on key issues like climate change, housing affordability, and social justice. It should be an exciting election to watch.
**Host:** Dr. Schmidt, thank you for sharing your insights.
**Dr. Schmidt:** My pleasure.
