Tension Before Vienna Election: Can the FPÖ Reverse the Historic Debacle of 2020?

Vienna has been SPÖ-dominated since 1945, and the election on April 27 is unlikely to change that. However, the election could partially reverse the power shifts that were shaken up five years ago.

In 2020, the Vienna FPÖ was practically dismantled, while the traditionally weak ÖVP in Vienna celebrated a doubling of its votes. The Greens achieved a historic election victory but still had to yield to the NEOS in the city government.

Vienna Election 2020 was a Disaster for FPÖ

The upheavals in the last Vienna election were most devastating for the city’s Blues. Just five years after their historically best result in the federal capital (30.79), the Freedom Party plummeted to only 7.11 percent and fifth place in the year following the Ibiza scandal and expense scandal - the weakest result in Vienna since 1983.

Even the Ibiza originator, former FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache, managed to enter the municipal council with 3.27. While the third camp stood as the clear and only loser on the election night of October 11, 2020, all other city hall parties could celebrate gains.

Vienna ÖVP Achieved Best Result in 33 Years

Most notably the ÖVP: The People's Party, which has been struggling in Vienna for decades, celebrated its best result in 33 years. With 20.32 percent, the historically worst result achieved five years earlier (2015: 9.24) was more than doubled. From fourth place, the turquoise People's Party with top candidate Gernot Blümel moved up to second place.

Ludwig achieved gains in Vienna election

The SPÖ, which for the first time went into the election with Mayor Michael Ludwig as the top candidate, was able to celebrate gains (+2.03 percentage points) and 41.62 percent in 2020. After the election, Ludwig had the choice between three coalition options: as before with the Greens, the ÖVP, or also NEOS. Only the collaboration with the FPÖ had he explicitly excluded in advance. He ultimately decided on NEOS, which had increased their share in the municipal council election from 6.16 to 7.47 percent.

Vienna election 2020 shaped by Corona

The Corona pandemic, which broke out eight months earlier, shaped the Vienna election primarily in that the proportion of postal voters reached a new record. During the election campaign, there were repeated exchanges between the federal government and Vienna over Corona measures.

(APA/Red)

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