Toni Grünsteidl becomes the new deputy general secretary of the Young People's Party!

Toni Grünsteidl becomes the new deputy general secretary of the Young People's Party!

On April 5, 2025, Toni Grünsteidl was appointed deputy general secretary of the Young People's Party (JVP). He is currently the regional manager of the JVP Lower Austria. On May 15, 2025, Grünsteidl will join the team of JVP federal chairwoman Claudia Plakolm, who describes him as a committed go-getter with strong organizational talent. This appointment is part of the strategic realignment of the JVP, which is positioning itself as an innovation driver in Austrian domestic policy.

The Young People's Party has over 100,000 members, making it the largest political circle of friends in Austria. Historically, the JVP has advanced important issues such as voting from the age of 16 and the rejection of nuclear power. In the last legislative period, over 20 demands were successfully implemented by the JVP, which proves its political relevance. Grünsteidl emphasizes the need to make the JVP quick-witted and well-positioned for future challenges.

Successes of the Young People's Party

In the last five years, the JVP has been able to implement a variety of measures for young people in Austria. This includes:

• Kostenlose HPV-Impfung bis 21 Jahre und Nachimpfaktion bis 30 Jahre.
• Härtere Strafen bei Missbrauch und Lückenschluss im Tätigkeitsverbot.
• Einführung des Staatspreises Ehrenamt.
• Einrichtung einer Servicestelle für Ehrenamt.
• Streichung von zwei der drei Nebengebühren auf das erste Eigenheim.

Another important step was the lifting of the blood donation ban for homosexuals and the introduction of the school subject digital basic education. These initiatives demonstrate the JVP's commitment to promoting the quality of life and the rights of the young generation in Austria.

Claudia Plakolm, the first Youth State Secretary in Austria, initiated numerous important initiatives under her leadership that affect both youth and society as a whole. This includes, among other things, increasing federal youth funding and introducing nursing apprenticeships. Plakolm's constant commitment has contributed significantly to the positive development of the JVP.

Historical development and future perspectives

The JVP was founded in 1945 as the “Austrian Youth Movement” and has since developed into an equal sub-organization of the ÖVP. This organization has changed significantly over the years and adapted to political circumstances, always taking pro-European positions. The appointment of Toni Grünsteidl as Deputy Secretary General is a further step for the JVP towards a promising future.

The JVP has also distinguished itself in the past with strong leaders such as Silvia Grünberger and Sebastian Kurz, who have left their mark on Austrian politics. With a solid base of members and a clear political agenda, the Young People's Party is ready to tackle the challenges of the future and continue to represent the interests of young people in Austria. In this context, the upcoming National Council election in 2024 is of particular importance, in which Plakolm will run in second place on the ÖVP federal list.