Markus Figl takes over the Vienna ÖVP: A new course for the party!

Markus Figl takes over the Vienna ÖVP: A new course for the party!

In an exciting party conference last Saturday, Markus Figl was elected as the new chairman of the Vienna ÖVP with 86.1 percent of the votes. Figl, who previously served as acting party leader, succeeds Karl Mahrer, who resigned after losing the Vienna election in April. The election took place in the Expedithalle of the former Anker bread factory in Vienna-Favoriten, a venue that seemed modern and nostalgic at the same time with its construction site ambience. The number of delegates was 274.

But who is Markus Figl? The 51-year-old is not only the great-nephew of the former Chancellor Leopold Figl, but also the 16th chairman of the Vienna People's Party. He will also retain his position as district leader of the inner city and will not move to the town hall. His deputies supported him in his election, including Elisabeth Olischar (84.7%), Johanna Zinkl (88.3%) and Daniel Resch (85.8%), who also achieved high approval ratings in the election. The members of the Vienna ÖVP react positively to the decision to change the party leadership and are optimistic about the future under Figl's leadership.

A clear focus on the future

In his inaugural speech, Figl emphasized that it was necessary to draw the conclusions from the poor election result and create a real alternative to the current system. He announced the founding of a “future workshop” that will deal with future topics and innovative ideas in order to give people hope and confidence. Security, education and the economy will be the focus of his future work, which are anything but secondary for him.

Federal party chairman and Chancellor Christian Stocker also expressed confidence about the development of the ÖVP in Vienna. He is convinced that Markus Figl has the right skills to lead the party into a successful future. “The coming months will be crucial in expanding the voter base and strengthening the party,” said Stocker.

The new wind in the Vienna ÖVP

With the election of Markus Figl, the Vienna ÖVP feels a breath of fresh air, which will probably be crucial in order to better master the challenges that await them in the political landscape. With their election, the members of the party have not only ushered in a new leadership position, but also ushered in a new era in which the voices of citizens should be heard again.

All in all, the party conference was harmonious and conveyed a spark of hope and a sense of optimism in Viennese politics. The next steps will show how well the new leadership will be able to implement its plans and bring about a real change. ORF reports about the positive response from members and Nachrichten.at gives a deep insight into the details of the choice and the challenges that await Figl.