First Reactions of the Parties to the State Election in Burgenland 2025

The projection for the Burgenland state election on Sunday caused great jubilation at the FPÖ. Top candidate Norbert Hofer was pleased that the Freedom Party could more than double its share to 22.8 percent compared to the 2020 election. "For us, the result is of course very pleasing," he said at the Freedom Party's club in the Eisenstadt Landhaus.

State Election in Burgenland: Great Jubilation at FPÖ

As the bar for the Freedom Party moved upwards, a murmur went through the crowd, followed by applause. Hofer was pleased about the significant increase. They had gained a lot - "as the only party," said the former Third National Council President. The FPÖ gained about 13 percentage points. In 2020, they had achieved 9.8 percent under the impression of the Ibiza affair.

Hofer: Government Formation Will Be "Very Exciting"

The only downside: "Of course, I would have preferred if no coalition could have been possible without us," Hofer said. Celebrating with him were, among others, National Council President Walter Rosenkranz, State Party Chairman Alexander Petschnig and Club Chairman Johann Tschürtz.

The often-discussed option in advance, that Hofer could become governor in a coalition with the ÖVP, is not possible according to the projection. The only option against the SPÖ would be a government of the People's Party, Freedom Party and Greens - rather unlikely, as Hofer found. Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) is now on the move to find a partner. If he were invited, he would have talks with him, Hofer emphasized. The formation of the government will be "very exciting" in the coming weeks.

In an interview with ORF, Hofer reiterated that he wants to stay in Burgenland - even without a government office. The federal presidential election 2028 is therefore not an issue for him.

Club Chairman Tschürtz Wants to "Definitely" Govern with SPÖ

State party chairman Petschnig spoke of a "sensational, historical result" and thanked the people of Burgenland for their support. The ball is now in the SPÖ's court. The Freedom Party is of course ready for coalition talks, he emphasized: "If they call us, we are very happy to go into government negotiations."

Club chairman Johann Tschürtz expressed even more clearly for a government participation. He told APA that he was "glad that we are second," and now wants to "definitely" govern with the SPÖ: "That would even be a two-thirds majority."

Rosenkranz Celebrates "Historical Result" for FPÖ

Walter Rosenkranz, the President of the National Council (FPÖ), was pleased with the provincial party's "historically best result" after the forecast for the state election in Burgenland. He was "very happy" and congratulated top candidate Norbert Hofer, whose return to Burgenland had now been rewarded, Rosenkranz told APA. However, he did not see a blue government participation as a must. "One does not have to submit just to govern, for its own sake alone."

If there is no government participation, the FPÖ will be a "strong, profiled and professional opposition". Rosenkranz could well imagine Hofer in both roles and smiled: "One could almost say: We Freedom Party can do everything in politics."

Kunasek: "Political Reversal Trend Confirmed"

Mario Kunasek, the Styrian governor (FPÖ), saw the result of the Freedom Party in Burgenland as a confirmation of the "political reversal trend in Austria". He congratulated Hofer and was pleased that the SPÖ may have lost the absolute majority: "Across Austria, people can increasingly identify with freedom-oriented content, as today's election result has proven."

Kunasek recognised a "strong desire for political change in the population". The voter's vote shows "that the Burgenlanders also long for a freedom-oriented handwriting in the future state government in their federal state".

Upper Austria's party leader and deputy governor Manfred Haimbuchner congratulated the FPÖ Burgenland and Hofer on the "historically best result and second place in the state election". The result also clearly showed for him: "The citizens want a political change."

Landbauer Delighted About the Fall of the Red "Absolute"

Udo Landbauer, the Lower Austrian FPÖ state party chairman and deputy governor, spoke of a "historic electoral success" in Burgenland. The courage, determination and honesty of top candidate Norbert Hofer had been rewarded. The FPÖ in Burgenland is "as strong as never before" and was the only party that could clearly gain. "The fact that the SPÖ absolute has fallen rounds off this pleasing election day", Landbauer said in a statement.

Puchwein Sees "Burgenland Way Confirmed"

SPÖ state managing director Jasmin Puchwein saw the "Burgenland way" confirmed after the first forecast. Regarding the fact that the election goal, to hold the 18th mandate, so that no state government is possible against the SPÖ, was not achieved, she said that the final result still had to be awaited. She also left open with whom the first conversation about a possible coalition could be held.

Eisenstadt. "If you work well and a lot for the people, you get a lot back. We have shown that politics pays off for the people", said Puchwein. All over Europe, governing parties are being punished: "Not with us", she was pleased.

The forecast had only been known for a few minutes, state party leader Hans Peter Doskozil will now discuss the further procedure with his team: "Nothing has been staked out yet. It's about content", emphasized the state managing director. "Let's wait and see what happens. The goal was for the Burgenland way to continue and it has been confirmed", Puchwein said about the fact that the 18th mandate could not be held.

Doskozil's Statement Comes Later

The red top candidate Doskozil followed the projection in his governor's office with his closest team. There were no statements initially, he was only available for photos and video recordings. A first statement was announced only after the round of top candidates at around 6 pm.

Among the guests in the governor's office were the government team, state parliament president Robert Hergovich, Doskozil's predecessor Hans Niessl, the new Styrian state party chairman Max Lercher and the state management, but not representatives of the federal party. When the projection and the individual values were displayed, applause broke out, followed by congratulations and backslapping - and a kiss for Doskozil from his wife Julia.

NEOS Missed Entry into Burgenland State Parliament

The NEOS missed the entry into the Burgenland state parliament. National Council member Yannick Shetty was still optimistic in the first interviews. "A plus is a plus," Shetty told ORF about the increase of 0.1 percentage points in the first projection. "We have never been so good before." However, he admitted: "We would have wished for more." Looking ahead, he said: "We will build on what we have achieved."

When asked whether it was a mistake to commit to the opposition role in Burgenland from the outset, Shetty replied: It is "tragic for Burgenland that the other parties will now vie to make it even cheaper for Doskozil." He added that in the end it was a duel between SPÖ top candidate Hans Peter Doskozil and FPÖ list leader Norbert Hofer.

Shortly afterwards, when asked by Puls 24 whether the performance in this election was related to the federal party's decision to withdraw from coalition negotiations, Shetty denied a connection. "The voters know that there are different elections at different levels."

Secretary General Douglas Hoyos also looked ahead. "Even if the plus is not enough for entry into the state parliament, we take on the task as a 'control force' in the fight against the red network with energy and immediately start working on the municipal election 27," Hoyos said on the short message service X.

NEOS-Schneider: "We Have Ruffled Feathers"

NEOS top candidate Christoph Schneider tries to spread optimism despite the clearly missed entry into the Burgenland state parliament. "We have never been as visible as we are now," he announced to his team. "We were loud, we have ruffled feathers. People understand our message, have reacted positively." The population now knows "that we do not side with (Governor Hans Peter, note) Doskozil, but with the Burgenlanders."

According to the second projection, the NEOS are at 1.9 percent. That's 0.2 percentage points more than in the last Burgenland election.

Sagartz Finds the Result "Disappointing"

For the Burgenland ÖVP top candidate Christian Sagartz, the result of the first projection after the state election is "disappointing". It is "not a good day for us as a People's Party," he said in a written statement to the APA. State Managing Director Patrik Fazekas expressed similar sentiments. He attributed the reasons for the worst ÖVP result in Burgenland so far, among other things, to an unfavourable political climate for the ÖVP.

In addition, they had "two political heavyweights" as opponents, the state managing director referred to the top candidates Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) and Norbert Hofer (FPÖ). The absolute majority of the SPÖ may be history - but there was no majority for the change sought by the ÖVP. However, they still want to take on government responsibility.

Federal ÖVP disappointed about "painful losses"

The Federal ÖVP is disappointed with the result of the state election in Burgenland. Secretary General Alexander Pröll spoke of "painful losses" after the publication of the projections. At the same time, however, SPÖ Governor Hans Peter Doskozil will have to look for a partner in the future, said Pröll: "It is a pity that the Burgenland People's Party has to accept a loss of votes despite its good work and committed election campaign."

The ÖVP sees reasons for the poor performance in the "challenging situation at the federal level" and in a media focus on the duel between Governor Doskozil and the FPÖ top candidate Norbert Hofer. "This escalation has cost important votes", even though Hofer "fell short of high expectations", Pröll emphasised.

Federal Greens' re-entry a "huge success"

For Olga Voglauer, Secretary General of the Federal Green Party, the performance of the Greens in the Burgenland state election feels "like a huge success" despite moderate losses of votes. If the result of the first projection holds, the Greens with their two mandates will now "be the deciding factor", Voglauer said on Sunday at the Eisenstadt state house.

Regarding a government cooperation with the SPÖ, the ball is now in the court of Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ), according to Voglauer. The Greens are ready to take responsibility and make progressive politics in Burgenland. "With the Greens, a different vision would be possible in Burgenland than that of the concreters," said Voglauer.

Greens want to co-govern

Green state spokeswoman and top candidate Anja Haider Wallner reacted with relief to the first projection of the outcome of the Burgenland state election. The Greens remain in the state parliament - and want to co-govern: "The ball is now in the court of Governor Hans Peter Doskozil. He can go into the past with blue or into the future with green. We are ready to take responsibility."

The Greens would be ready for talks and have "many ideas on how we can make Burgenland more liveable", said Haider-Wallner in an initial written statement. The danger that the Greens would not make it into the state parliament was real: "Some had already written us off completely." She is therefore pleased that a catch-up and a "solid/good result" was achieved and the mandates could be maintained.

Vienna's Greens pleased about "turnaround"

The Vienna Greens, who also have an upcoming election, congratulated. "The Greens are returning to the state parliament and have initiated a turnaround with a catch-up race against the polls. This means that climate protection and soil protection, transparency and the preservation of local centres are again strongly represented in the Burgenland state parliament," said party leader Judith Pühringer in a statement sent to the APA.

"You can count on us Greens," commented Tyrol's Green parliamentary group leader Gebi Mair on the election result in Burgenland. The Greens had already been written off, but now the party is "even in a strategically advantageous position". The election result also shows that "even for the Freedom Party, dreams of absolute majorities do not grow into the sky" and also what people think of the "broken promises" of the People's Party.

The Burgenland Greens have "shown what is possible with commitment and a clear message," said Hikmet Arslan, the party's state manager in Lower Austria. They have "absolutely achieved a good result". "Especially in times like these, we need critical, green voices more than ever," Arslan emphasised.

Government Participation "Beautiful Vision"

The Styrian Green leader Sandra Krautwaschl was also pleased about the Greens' continued presence in the Burgenland state parliament: "Given the difficult situation we are in, it is pleasing that we were apparently able to hold both mandates. A big thank you goes to the people in Burgenland who have given us Greens their trust. They are slowly realising that it will be very important for the future if the Greens have something to say in the state parliaments."

One reason for holding the mandates may have been that the issue of preserving our livelihoods and fair social balance no longer appears in the discussions and negotiations at the federal level. She did not want to make a recommendation as to whether the Greens should go into a possible government with Doskozil, but it was a "beautiful vision" of a government in which the Greens also stand up for the things for which they were elected, Krautwaschl said.

Molnar: "I'm Doing Well"

List Common Sense top candidate Geza Molnar "clearly missed" entering the state parliament, he admitted to the APA on Sunday afternoon: "The conditions and circumstances were difficult. I thank each individual voter." And: "I'm doing well. I'm glad I did it," he further explained.

Eisenstadt. When asked whether the former FPÖ politician could now work again with the Freedom Party, Molnar said: "There are currently no considerations, but I don't want to rule anything out."

Everything about the Burgenland election

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.