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New wind in St. Pölten: Krumböck calls for policy changes!
The St. Pölten election will take place on January 25, 2026, where ÖVP candidate Florian Krumböck will advocate a new political style.
New wind in St. Pölten: Krumböck calls for policy changes!
The upcoming elections in St. Pölten are the focus of political discussion. On January 25, 2026, the city will decide who should shape the future. ÖVP top candidate Florian Krumböck has already formulated clear demands. He calls for a new plan and style in city politics and strongly criticizes the “old SPÖ politics”, which in his opinion has blocked progress in St. Pölten. The city's economic and infrastructure projects would be in jeopardy unless there was a rethink, as vienna.at reports.
A recent report shows that 72% of the 1,288 local council resolutions were passed unanimously in the current period. This suggests that despite the politically tense situation there is a certain level of unity. Nevertheless, there were also 15.5% of the resolutions that came about without the approval of the ÖVP. Krumböck highlights his party's small successes, such as the weekend night train between St. Pölten and Vienna and measures to curb district heating price increases.
Challenges for the city
Vice Mayor Matthias Adl emphasizes that St. Pölten has been faced with major challenges since 2021. The effects of the pandemic, rising costs of living, financial bottlenecks and the flood disaster in 2024 are affecting local politicians. Adl criticizes the SPÖ for its insufficient responsibility in difficult issues, but emphasizes the positive cooperation during the flood disaster. He will no longer be the first on the list and will in future take on the role of finance officer on the city party executive board.
This context is even more relevant when one considers developments at the municipal level in Austria and Germany. As deinkreis24.at describes, the local level is facing numerous challenges and reforms. Issues such as housing, transport and climate protection are increasingly dominating the political agenda. Local democracy is heavily influenced by social developments, and the pressure on local politicians to find solutions remains high.
The importance of women in local politics
A particularly pressing issue is the extremely low proportion of women in local politics. Although there has been progress with 236 female mayors, women are still severely underrepresented in these offices. This is increasingly being addressed by various initiatives, such as the new working groups to promote female local politics. Structural changes are needed, such as better childcare and flexible meeting arrangements, to bring more women into politics.
The financial challenges are also obvious. Communities are facing increasing expenses and demands for grants for essential areas such as child care, nursing and hospitals. The new legislation calls for transparent framework conditions to promote digitalization in administration. It is becoming increasingly clear that the local level is crucial for citizen proximity and regional solutions, while citizens want more transparency and participation.
In St. Pölten, as in other Austrian cities, the coming election will decide not only about political parties, but also about the need for changes in local politics. The coming months will show whether citizens want the change of course that Krumböck is calling for or whether they continue to trust the old ways of the SPÖ. In this time of uncertainty, the return to citizen-oriented and responsible politics remains of the utmost importance.