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Election campaign in the agricultural parliament: Who will shape the future of farmers?
Important elections for the Chamber of Agriculture in Lower Austria are coming up on March 2, 2025, in which various parties are fighting for mandates.
Election campaign in the agricultural parliament: Who will shape the future of farmers?
A fascinating picture emerged from the recent elections for the Chamber of Agriculture in Austria. The Lower Austrian Farmers' Union remains the dominant force after the election, even if it suffered slight losses. The top candidate Rupert Quehenberger and his supporters celebrate, even if the losses had to be compensated for with a minus of 5.8 percent. Despite these declines, the Farmers' Association retains the leading position in the chamber with 21 out of 28 mandates. This reported Krone.at.
In the simultaneous election in Lower Austria, the candidates from the Independent Farmers' Association and the Freedom Farmers' Union are hoping to make gains. The Independent Farmers' Association wants to expand its influence in the chamber, while the Freedom Farmers' Association, led by Peter Schmiedlechner, is pushing for a "red-white-red turn in agricultural policy." The SPÖ farmers around their state chairman Ernst Wagendristel are also aiming to get into the chamber again. In a powerful election campaign, the parties are calling for a fairer distribution of funding and measures to combat the “dying of farmers”.
Criticism of the Mercosur agreement
A central issue that unites all parties is the sharp criticism of the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur states. Everyone involved fears that this could lead to a ruinous price war on the European market, while at the same time driving rainforest destruction in South America. This was also expressed bluntly by the parties taking part in the election, such as noe.ORF.at reported.
While the election results open a new chapter in agricultural policy, voter turnout remains a hotly debated issue at just 34.8 percent. This could indicate a general lack of interest, as many voters feel that their concerns are not sufficiently taken into account by the political class. Given these challenges, the Chamber's role in the coming legislative period will be crucial.