New wind in Gerasdorf: FPÖ takes over city leadership after elections!

New wind in Gerasdorf: FPÖ takes over city leadership after elections!

In Gerasdorf, a town with 12,000 inhabitants north of Vienna, the FPÖ replaced the Social Democrats after the elections at the end of January and is now the mayor for the first time in the Second Republic. Dietmar Ruf, the designated new city boss, announced at a press conference that the city's finances must be brought under control. He emphasized that you can “only spend as much money as you have” and called for a focus on essential municipal tasks such as the sewer system. “Last year’s flood events showed how important functioning infiltration basins are,” says Ruf. Other plans include the construction of a nursing home as well as the expansion of public transport and childcare, such as noe.orf.at reported.

Political upheaval and financial restructuring

The FPÖ gained 16.67 percent in the elections, which secured it a total of 12 seats in the local council. Ruf was honored as preferential vote king because he received 1,129 votes in the election - more than any other politician before in Gerasdorf. The SPÖ, on the other hand, had to accept a loss of seats at a comparatively stable 37.84 percent and will still be represented in the local council with 14 seats. Ruf explained that the decision for the new political alliance - a cooperation with the ÖVP - was not made against the SPÖ, but in the spirit of a stable financial policy. “We will turn over every stone to create stable municipal finances,” he emphasized. The designated deputy mayor, Kaldun Hana, added that they wanted to make savings in the committees in the first steps in order to increase work efficiency Kurier.at reported.

During the handover of official business, an important date is the inaugural municipal council meeting on Tuesday. The new city leadership is focused on stabilizing the municipality's financial foundation and plans to increase the involvement of city councils to promote transparency and collaboration. Last year's mayor, Hans Jürgen Peitzmeier from the SPÖ, only served in office briefly and leaves behind a legacy of high debts, which Ruf and Hana now want to counteract.