Kleinwalsertal chooses new mayor: surprise for the FPÖ!

Kleinwalsertal chooses new mayor: surprise for the FPÖ!

The Vorarlberg municipal elections on March 16, 2025 brought numerous surprises, especially in the cities of Bregenz and Bludenz. In Bregenz, the Mayor Michael Ritsch from the SPÖ was able to confirm his term in the first election with 50.94 percent of the votes. He clearly prevailed against his challenger Roland Breakfast (ÖVP), who only reached 29.96 percent. In the city council, the SPÖ fled the ÖVP and has been the strongest faction for the first time since 1995. This turn was unexpectedly because many had expected a runoff election, but Ritsch was able to assert themselves confidently, which emphasizes vorarlberg.orf .

was similar in Bludenz, where the incumbent Simon Tschann (ÖVP) made a re -election in the first attempt with 50.60 percent of the vote. Despite a below the mandate that the ÖVP won in the city council, Tschann can continue to count on an absolute majority. The SPÖ, on the other hand, had to accept a setback and lost three of its 14 mandates in Bludenz. The elections also reported Vol.at , which also illuminates the results from other municipalities, as in Kleinwalsertal, where FPÖ-Mann Joachim Fritz won the mayor's office.

stitch elections and change in the landscape

A total of around 307,900 eligible voters were called for election in 96 municipalities, and in seven municipalities there are stab elections, including in the district capitals of Dornbirn and Feldkirch. The elections revealed a significant rethink in the electorate: While in Nenzing the ÖVP with Michael Hartmann was able to grow from 48.10 percent to 13 seats, the FPÖ lost influence and only has 10 mandates. The result in Schruns was even scarce, here Jürgen Haller (100% party -free) was just able to win the mayor election with 50.20 percent, while the reigning Mayor Martin Sadjak (ÖVP) was lost with 49.80 percent.