Viennese Greens put on the individual leadership: Who will be top candidate 2025?

Viennese Greens put on the individual leadership: Who will be top candidate 2025?

The Greens in Vienna are facing a major reorganization that is important for the upcoming local council and district representation elections in autumn 2025. Just two months after the National Council election, which was disappointing for the party, the previous double tip is to be replaced by a single leader. This decision was made against the background of the elections, in which the Greens lost votes in comparison to 2019.

The voter result of 12.34 percent means a decline of more than 8 percentage points for the Greens in Vienna. In regions that traditionally considered green strongholds, the shrinkage was partly particularly noticeable. Despite this worrying development, party representatives emphasize that this election is regarded as a tactical decision of many voters who supported the SPÖ in order to advance a possible impression.

New course for the Greens

In order to start the Viennese election campaign, there will be no more space for two top candidates. The party leaders Judith Pühringer and Peter Kraus, who have managed the Greens as a leadership team in the past three years, each have as individual candidates. It is expected that a decision will be announced in the coming week about the future top candidate. Insiders report that Pühringer and Kraus made this step with each other before the National Council election.

Although official nomination occurs, the final confirmation of the top candidate will only take place on February 22, 2025 if the green base will hold an election to the awarding of the list positions at a state assembly. Therefore, it remains to be seen who ultimately goes into the election campaign as the memorable face of the Viennese Greens.

Pühringer and Kraus were confirmed in their offices for the first time in spring 2023, but this change of direction could be of great importance for the future strategy of the party. In view of the upcoming elections, it is now essential that the Greens focus their shape and messages precisely on the voters in order to regain lost votes.

In the next few weeks there will be tensions and discourses within the party, while the members adapt to the continued changes and decide how best to react to the challenges that are in front of them. This realignment could be the key to regain the connection to the voters.

For more information about the developments within the Greens and the upcoming decisions, a look at www.meinbezirk.at .