KSV-KJÖ celebrates historic election victory at the CEU with 56.8%!

KSV-KJÖ celebrates historic election victory at the CEU with 56.8%!

On May 16, 2025, the Communist List KSV-KJÖ achieved a historic decision in the elections at the Central European University (CEU): with 56.8% of the votes, the faction secured an absolute majority. This represents a significant increase as the number of votes is almost three times higher than in previous elections. Sebastian Redl, the federal chairman of the KSV-KJÖ, emphasized that the students are fed up with the clientelism of the Austrian Students' Union (ÖH) and want to advocate for comprehensive representation of the interests of all students. The success is also reflected in the election for federal representation, where the KSV-KJÖ achieved 41.8%.

The future concerns of the KSV-KJÖ are complex. According to Redl, the focus will be on better employment conditions for doctoral students, expanding scholarships for master's students and improving study conditions in the bachelor's area. Bela Hümmelgen, another member of the group, explained that communist politics is currently experiencing a revival as it fights for radical and concrete improvements. Topics such as affordable housing, tuition fees and unrealistic minimum study times are also viewed critically by the KSV-KJÖ and should be revised.

demands and ideology

Noah Zvonek, the top candidate of the KSV-KJÖ and a history student at the University of Vienna, explains that the group is vehemently against the financing of universities by defense companies and is calling for a civil clause for research. The KSV-KJÖ rejects the introduction of tuition fees because they are considered socially selective and unfair. She advocates for greater state funding for universities and for the expansion of scholarships and grants.

In addition, the KSV-KJÖ demands that more childcare be provided for students with children. The group's focus is on stopping the depoliticization of students and empowering them to advocate for their own concerns. Collaboration with so-called “socially reactionary” forces such as the RFS is expressly rejected.

Historical context of the student movement

In the context of the current successes of the KSV-KJÖ, it is important to remember the roots of the student movements. German universities were under the influence of significant social changes in the 1960s. Political scandals and calls for an end to the Vietnam War as well as social reforms characterized the time. Student representatives demanded contemporary learning content and social equal opportunities, while the political situation in the country, such as the split from the Socialist German Student Association (SDS), played an important role in the emerging resistance.

The student movement of the 1960s, with its commitment to social justice and anti-militarist ideas, also finds an echo in the current activities of the KSV-KJÖ. The demands for peace and against arms research at universities, which are expressed by the KSV-KJÖ, continue to be a sign of the students' ongoing efforts to eliminate social injustices.

Overall, it is clear that the KSV-KJÖ has not only won a strong mandate at the CEU with its demands and successes, but also stands for a political tradition that is deeply rooted in the social and political struggles of the last decades.

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