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 specific challenges do Pühringer and Kraus face in order to regain voter confidence and momentum heading into the state assembly elections?
## Interview with Political Analyst on Viennese Greens
**Host:** Joining us today is Dr. Lisa Schmidt, a political analyst specializing in Viennese politics. Dr. Schmidt, thank you for coming.
**Dr. Schmidt:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Let’s discuss the recent news regarding the Viennese Green Party. They’ve announced their list for the upcoming state assembly elections next February. What can you tell us about the Pühringer-Kraus duo leading the party?
**Dr. Schmidt:** It’s an interesting dynamic. Markus Pühringer is the current leader, and he’s chosen Peter Kraus as his second-in-command. This duo has been in office since 2020 after the removal of their predecessor, Birgit Hebein, following the Vienna elections. They’ve had a mixed record. [[1](https://www.thelocal.at/20240827/explained-what-the-political-parties-in-austrias-election-race-stand-for)]
**Host:** Their performance in the 2020 elections was quite impressive, wasn’t it?
**Dr. Schmidt:** Absolutely. The Greens achieved their best result ever in Vienna, securing 14.8 percent of the vote. This was a pivotal moment for the party.
**Host:** But the recent National Council election tells a different story, doesn’t it?
**Dr. Schmidt:** You’re right. They experienced a significant drop, losing 8.4 percentage points. They came in fourth place with 12.3 percent. This makes the upcoming state assembly elections crucial for re-establishing momentum. It’ll be interesting to see how Pühringer and Kraus navigate this challenge and their strategies for regaining voter confidence.
**Host:** Dr. Schmidt, thank you for sharing your insights. We’ll be eagerly watching the developments in the Viennese political landscape.
