In view of the polls, Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP) has no illusions about the National Council election: “The bar has shifted.” Unfortunately, they are assuming that they will lose seats, but are still convinced that they can cross the finish line as the winner in the duel with FP leader Herbert Kickl on September 29. Together with club chairman August Wöginger, State Secretary Claudia Plakolm and State Party Secretary Florian Hiegelsberger, Stelzer presented the ÖVP’s election list at the state and regional level yesterday.
At the top, as reported, everything remains the same: Wöginger and Plakolm, two familiar faces, lead the state list. As expected, the club chairman and the state secretary also find themselves in first place on the lists of their “home districts”, the Innviertel and Mühlviertel.
Uncertain starting position
Positions three to six are more exciting: There, in this order, are Laurenz Pöttinger from Grieskirchen, Bettina Zopf, a councillor from Altmünster, Manfred Hofinger, the mayor of Lambrechten and Johanna Jachs, a member of the National Council from Freistadt.
Image: Streif
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Image: Streif
According to the VP, it is certain that at least two candidates from the state list and one from each of the five regional lists will make it into the election. Hofinger’s chances of being re-elected will therefore be particularly tight. In addition to fifth place on the state list, he is only in third place in the Innviertel. Jachs’s future is also in doubt, with sixth place on the state list and third place in the Mühlviertel. Both must hope for a mandate from the federal list, which has yet to be announced.