Long before the first projection, a number of liberal officials gathered in the Upper Austrian election center in Linz’s Ursulinenhof; there were no representatives from the other parties. Election district results are happily exchanged. With every result the mood increases.
The expected numbers have long since made the rounds: Shortly before 5 p.m. the choreography for the cheers is being discussed. While we are still waiting for the first figures for the federal government, a projection for Upper Austria is shown on a screen a few seconds after 5 p.m. Cheers erupt, Kickl and blue thank you plates are waved.
Between cheers and silence
In the end, the result in Upper Austria with its black-blue state government is even clearer than in the federal government: the FPÖ even manages more than 30 percent and almost doubles its percentage. The ÖVP lost by double digits and ended up with a good 26 percent. The SPÖ remains just above the 20 percent mark. Neos and Greens remain behind the federal results, the Pinks are overtaking the Greens here too.
Change of location: In the ÖVP party headquarters in the Heinrich-Gleißner-Haus there was grave silence in the late afternoon during the first projection. The faces were stoic, some of the officials showed shock on their faces. Until the end there was great hope that the trend could be reversed. When the blue bar went up yesterday, there was a brief noise – not out of enthusiasm, of course. “We don’t need to be blamed, we fought bravely to catch up,” said state party secretary Florian Hiegelsberger a little later. The officials ran, the party threw everything into the balance – unfortunately it wasn’t enough in the end. But this election also showed that the party structures worked. It is now important to look towards the state elections in 2027 (“we will not let up”), Upper Austria is an ÖVP state.
It’s a similar situation at the SPÖ state headquarters on Landstrasse. The Upper Austrian top candidate Eva-Maria Holzleitner and state manager Florian Koppler look stoically at the screen. Nobody says a word here for almost ten minutes. State party leader Michael Lindner is not visible when the first projection appears. Promised interviews are canceled – “he has to collect himself first,” says an official.
Meanwhile, an exuberant atmosphere and relief at the Neos on Rudigierstrasse. The rosé – matching the party color – is served. Top candidate Karin Doppelbauer celebrates the result with state manager Johannes Egger. One person is missing: state spokesman Felix Eypeltauer stayed at home due to illness.
Four to one: The blacks hold the Mühlviertel
In Linz and the surrounding area, the duel for first place narrowly went to the FPÖ (26.3 percent), followed by the SPÖ with 26.2 percent. The ÖVP came third with 21 percent (as of 9:45 p.m.).
In the Hausruckviertel, first place went to the Freedom Party with 32.7 percent. The ÖVP came in behind (26.3 percent), the SPÖ came third with 19.1 percent.
In the Innviertel, the Blues also secured first place with 37 percent. Second place went to the ÖVP (30 percent). The SPÖ is third with 14.1 percent.
In the Traunviertel, the FPÖ came first (30.6 percent), the ÖVP came second (24.9 percent), and the SPÖ came third (22.2 percent).
In the Mühlviertel the picture is different: Here the ÖVP is just ahead with 30.8 percent. The Freedom Party got 28.8 percent, the Social Democrats 18.4 percent.