Wallner elected again as ÖVP chief: a big step for Vorarlberg!

Wallner elected again as ÖVP chief: a big step for Vorarlberg!

Dornbirn, Österreich - On May 17, 2025, the 43rd ordinary state party conference of the ÖVP Vorarlberg took place in the Kulturhaus Dornbirn. Around 400 delegates and guests, including Chancellor Christian Stocker and EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner, were present. Governor Markus Wallner ran there for the fourth time as a state party chairman. He was the only candidate for the choice whose repetition was considered a formal act. The re -election was decided by the delegates, which underlines the high support for Wallner. This took over the party leadership of Herbert Sausgruber in 2015 and achieved approval of 98.87 percent in the last election in 2021, which represents an increase compared to 2015

In his "Vorarlberg speech", Wallner planned to set central programmatic course for the future. This speech could also appeal to topics such as the previous voting flaps and the Economic Federation Insermine Agency. Despite the negative starting point, such as the loss of the mayor's office in Dornbirn to the SPÖ in the municipal elections in March 2024, the ÖVP remained voting party. Above all, the focus of security and competitiveness that Brunner emphasized in his greetings play a central role in the current political agenda of the ÖVP.

choice of representatives

In addition to the election of Wallner, six state party chairman representatives were available. The candidates are:

• Julian Bitsche (new, JVP)
• Veronika Marte (new, Öaab)
• Josef Moosbrugger (Bauernbund)
• Martina Rüscher (we women)
• Andrea Schwarzmann (new, senior citizens' association)
• Marco Tittler (new, business association)

The previous deputies, Josef Moosbrugger and Martina Rüscher, remain in their positions. The new elections of these positions are part of the width and diversity that the ÖVP strives in Vorarlberg.

political context

Wallner has been the governor since December 2011 and thus the long -term head of government in Austria. In the Vorarlberg state election in autumn 2024, the ÖVP achieved a historically low result of 38.3 percent, but was able to choose its coalition partner FPÖ. This situation is a challenge that Wallner and his team have to accept in order to bring the ÖVP back into a stronger position.

The Greens' State Assembly will also be held on the same day under the motto "Fresh Green", which further highlights the political competition in Vorarlberg. In this meeting, the challenges and realignment of the Greens could also be discussed after they have clearly missed their goals in the last state election.

At the State Party Congress of the ÖVP, the re -election of Wallner was considered a demonstration of stability and continuity in the Vorarlberg political process. The coming months will show how successful the ÖVP will be under its leadership in the realignment and addressing of internal and external challenges.