Stocker elected new ÖVP leader: 80 years of People's Party celebrated!

Stocker elected new ÖVP leader: 80 years of People's Party celebrated!

On March 29, 2025, the 41st regular federal party conference of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) took place in Wiener Neustadt, at which Chancellor Christian Stocker was officially elected as the new party chairman. Stocker, who had been acting chairman since taking over the party leadership in January, was able to successfully win the election after Karl Nehammer returned. Around 1,500 to 1,600 guests took part in the party conference, including former party leaders such as Sebastian Kurz, Wolfgang Schüssel and Michael Spindelegger.

The party conference took place on a special occasion: the ÖVP celebrated its 80th anniversary, which was founded in 1945. This was also honored with a special exhibition in the Tivoli campus, in which life-size cardboard figures of the former chairmen could be seen. The political mood was tense as Stocker was unable to surpass the result of his predecessor Nehammer, who was elected in 2022 with 100 percent of the vote. ÖVP leaders traditionally achieve high results in their first elections: Sebastian Kurz achieved 98.7 percent in 2017 and Reinhold Mitterlehner 99.1 percent in 2014.

New board and deputy

The four deputies for Stocker were also elected at the party conference: Karoline Edtstadler, Sophia Kircher and Veronika Marte as deputies and Thomas Stelzer as deputies. The previous deputy chairman Barbara Eibinger-Miedl no longer stood for election in order to concentrate on her position as State Secretary for Finance. The new leaders were elected by secret ballot and no motions were submitted.

Secretary General Nico Marchetti highlighted the high proportion of women among the delegates, who make up around half of the delegates eligible to vote. The Federal Finance Officer was also elected in this election in order to strengthen the structural leadership of the party.

Government formation and coalition negotiations

Christian Stocker, who has already had a long career in regional politics, became city party chairman and deputy mayor of Wiener Neustadt in 2000. In 2019 he entered the National Council and became Secretary General of the ÖVP in 2022. In his new position as party chairman, Stocker is expected to drive forward the formation of a government in the country and lead strategic coalition negotiations. Although he initially ruled out a coalition with the FPÖ, he suggested that anything was possible in the political landscape.

In summary, it can be said that the ÖVP party conference not only marks a change in leadership, but also sets the course for the future of the party and its strategy in political competition. Vienna.at reports that Stocker is aiming for a clear line in forming a government while putting personal ambitions aside. These new developments are of great importance for both ÖVP members and voters.