SPÖ Celebrates Projection

The SPÖ has received the results of the first projection for the Vienna election on Sunday with delight. The SPÖ state party chairman, Mayor Michael Ludwig, followed the presentation on television in the Red Salon of the Town Hall together with members of the city government and other top red officials. When the bars appeared on the screen, they were cheered.

There were initially no statements there, but the assembled red grandees seemed visibly relieved. The result was significantly better than the previously published trend forecast - although the result of the projection was within the margin of error of the forecast.

Voglauer Sees "Trend Reversal Achieved" in Vienna

Vienna. The Green Party Secretary General Olga Voglauer reacted euphorically to the first projections. "A sensation has been achieved in Vienna," she said at the Vienna Town Hall. Considering that polls had seen her party at seven percent a year ago, it was "a great result for the Greens," said Voglauer. "In Vienna, we have achieved a trend reversal," she assessed the impact for the federal Greens.

"Apparently, voters want the Greens back," Voglauer said, looking at a possible revival of the red-green coalition in the Vienna Town Hall that ended in 2020.

ÖVP State Organizations React Cautiously

The first ÖVP state parties reacted cautiously to the results of the Vienna election on Sunday evening. They refrained from criticizing top candidate Karl Mahrer. "Karl Mahrer and his team conducted an engaged campaign under difficult overall circumstances," summarized Lower Austria's ÖVP state manager Matthias Zauner. "Lower Austria will continue its partnership with Vienna in the interest of a strong eastern region in the future."

"A loss in an election is never satisfactory. Nevertheless, Karl Mahrer and his team fought for every vote until the last minute and showed great commitment," explained the new acting ÖVP state party chairman in Burgenland, Christoph Zarits.

Novak: Basically "Already a Very Good Result"

The first trend projections for the Vienna municipal council election on Sunday were received with applause by the SPÖ in the town hall club. State party secretary Barbara Novak showed purposeful optimism in an initial reaction. "Not a single vote has been counted yet," she emphasized, noting that a long election evening lay ahead. Basically, 37 percent would be "already a very good result" and a great vote of confidence for Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ), Novak said.

The SPÖ is clearly the strongest party and Ludwig is expected to remain the mayor of the federal capital, said the state party secretary. She explained the losses with the general trend that governing parties would lose in elections after the crisis years with the pandemic, the Ukraine war, and inflation.

The SPÖ did not plan an election party for the election evening, probably also because they expected at least slight losses. Officially, it is said that the officials are busy counting the votes until the late hours and have no time to celebrate.

SPÖ Burgenland congratulates, but with a jab at the federal government

The SPÖ Burgenland congratulated the Vienna party colleagues, but state manager Kevin Friedl further explained: "Today's result also shows very clearly that the federal government in its current constellation, which is mainly burdened with the reduction of the ÖVP debt legacy, does not mean a tailwind for social democracy."

Vienna. Nevertheless, the SPÖ Vienna was able to "convince and achieve a strong result," said Friedl. He also referred to the result of the Burgenland state election in January: "With today's day, it is also evident in retrospect how strong social democracy as a state governor party with Hans Peter Doskozil performed with 46.38 percent on January 19, 2025."

ÖVP state manager sees election goal achieved in Vienna election

The Vienna ÖVP state manager Peter Sverak sees an election goal of his party achieved in the Vienna election: "We are definitely capable of governing," he said after the publication of the first trend forecast. This forecasts the ÖVP a result of 11.5 percent and thus a minus of about 9 percentage points. The desired SPÖ-ÖVP coalition would thus be possible, said Sverak at the party headquarters.

The officials reacted with restrained applause to the forecast. Sverak pointed out that different conditions prevailed than in the 2020 election. The ÖVP has historically always had it "a bit more difficult" in Vienna.

There were commendable words for the "solid" election campaign: The People's Party took clear positions and focused strongly on content - such as security, education, health, and economy.

The trend forecast says the same as all previous surveys, said the state parliament member Harald Zierfuß to the APA. The SPÖ must enter into a coalition with the ÖVP if it takes the problems in Vienna seriously, he said. The exploratory talks should be led by top candidate Karl Mahrer.

For the state parliament member Ingrid Korosec, Mahrer was also the right top candidate. After the departure of former party leader Sebastian Kurz from politics, the other state parties also suffered losses in elections, she said about the result of the trend forecast. Korosec also hopes for a coalition with the SPÖ. Opposition work is of course also interesting, "but you can shape things in government." The chances of this are high, after all, she appreciates Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) as a pragmatist.

FPÖ cautiously celebrates

The Freedom Party celebrates cautiously in light of preliminary figures for the Vienna election. "If this trend should solidify, it would mean a tripling and thus a great success for the FPÖ," said state party secretary Lukas Brucker to the APA in view of the first trend forecast. "We have conducted a sensational campaign with Dominik Nepp, and the people of Vienna increasingly desire more security and fairness."

Officially, the FPÖ, which followed the election outcome partly in a wine tavern next to the town hall, did not want to celebrate yet. "This is only a forecast and not a projection with concrete voter numbers. Therefore, these data should be taken with great caution," Brucker initially qualified. A statement from party leader and top candidate Nepp is expected only after the first projection.

In the FPÖ, the joy over the performance in the Vienna election was naturally high according to the trend forecast. Several state party leaders congratulated top candidate Dominik Nepp remarkably quickly after the first figures became known and saw it primarily as a signal to federal politics.

The people of Vienna have made "a clear decision" for "more fairness, more social justice, and a policy that finally takes the concerns of Austrians seriously," said Salzburg's deputy governor Marlene Svazek. She sees the FPÖ's performance as "a vote of confidence for the Freedom Party," but also a "clear signal to the entire federal politics."

Similarly, Upper Austria's deputy governor Manfred Haimbuchner: "The blue wave of success continues to roll, and the people of Vienna have sent a signal for the desire for change at the ballot box. However, this result is also a clear rejection of the federal government." He was also pleased not only that the FPÖ could triple its result but also about "the historically worst result of the comrades in the federal capital."

Styria's governor Mario Kunasek congratulated Nepp almost word for word: "The voters have thus set a strong signal for change in the federal capital and confirmed the honest path of the FPÖ, which puts people at the center. Dominik Nepp took over the party in a difficult phase in 2019 and led it to a well-deserved success for the people of Vienna today with straightforward work."

The FPÖ was able to "impressively gain" the trust of the people of Vienna, said Burgenland's state party chairman Alexander Petschnig in a statement. It has been shown that people "are looking for a real alternative to the red-black power cartel," Petschnig also saw a "clear mandate" for the Freedom Party.

Also, the blue faction leader in the EU Parliament, Harald Vilimsky, does not expect a coalition in the federal capital. In view of the emerging figures, the Viennese sees the course of the Freedom Party also confirmed in terms of content. "These issues will have to be considered by anyone who wants to govern in this city," he said in an initial reaction. The result for the Freedom Party makes Vilimsky "extremely happy." Other blue officials also spoke of a "rebirth" of the party in Vienna on election night.

Greens hope for "solid result" in Vienna election

With cautious optimism, the Green state party leader Peter Kraus reacts to the trend forecast for the Vienna election. The figures are "not yet a result," but are "slightly above the last surveys," he told the APA. If the 12.5 percent is confirmed, it would be a "solid result," said Kraus. Especially when looking at the surveys from a year ago, where the Greens were significantly lower. Overall, it could be exciting, said the party leader.

He hopes for an election result that lies in this trend. The majority of the previous city government of SPÖ and NEOS is "shaking considerably," judged Kraus. Then there is a decision for the SPÖ and Mayor Michael Ludwig between the ÖVP and thus "towards concrete" or the Greens for the "most livable city." Kraus himself wants to continue leading the city party together with top candidate Judith Pühringer.

Similarly, the Green club chairman in the town hall, David Ellensohn, expressed: "Even more would be even better," he said on "Puls24." However, the trend forecast is "much better" than the expectations at the beginning of the year. As an important task for the next city government, Ellensohn saw the issue of affordable housing. A vacancy tax could only be implemented by the SPÖ with the Greens, which would "bring money into the coffers." And that is necessary because: "Unfortunately, Vienna has a large deficit."

Green State Leaders Hope for Coalition with SPÖ

The Greens sense a chance for Red-Green, after - at least according to trend forecasts - Red-Pink in Vienna is unlikely to happen. Burgenland's Green spokesperson Anja Haider-Wallner spoke of an "encouraging result." A "coalition for climate protection, affordable housing, and social cohesion" is certainly possible, said Haider-Wallner, herself deputy governor in a red-green state government.

Vienna. Gebi Mair from the Tyrolean Green leadership saw a "good day for us Greens" in an initial reaction. Red-Pink did not receive the electorate's trust for another term, and the ÖVP is not a stable option as the "clear election loser." "Therefore, there is now the chance for a red-green change in Vienna, which I am very pleased about," said Mair. The Greens started the election campaign at a low level and noticed the tailwind for the party with Leonore Gewessler. The SPÖ must now decide whether they are with the Greens for real social and environmental policy, "we are ready."

KPÖ Lead Candidate Satisfied with Trend Forecasts

Despite likely missing entry into the municipal council, the Vienna KPÖ is satisfied with the first trend forecasts on Sunday. "If the four percent hold, we are really very satisfied," said Barbara Urbanic, lead candidate of the joint list of KPÖ and LINKS, to the APA. This means a doubling compared to the result of the last Vienna election. "That would be a great confirmation for us that we are on the right path," said Urbanic.

Even if it doesn't work out this time, it will next time, the KPÖ politician consoled herself. The election campaign was very difficult for small parties due to the short-notice election. The Communists hope for "very strong" gains in the district council elections, where they currently hold 23 mandates in 15 districts.

KPÖ federal spokesperson Tobias Schweiger sees his party's predicted performance in the Vienna election with a four percent vote share as a "historic election result," regardless of whether the five percent hurdle is ultimately cleared or not. Speaking to ORF on Sunday evening before the first counting results were available, he emphasized that it certainly looks like a doubling, after the KPÖ was just over two percent in the 2020 alliance with LINKS.

Vienna. "Fortune-telling is unfortunately not a communist trait, but we would of course be satisfied with four percent," said Schweiger. The hurdle in Vienna is a special case and hard to crack. In any other federal state, one would be in the state parliament with four percent. Schweiger expects a strengthening in the districts and is generally pleased with the growing support.

Everything about the Vienna Election

(APA/Red)

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