Mayor Ließ resigns after alcohol accident with 1.3 per mille!

Mayor Ließ resigns after alcohol accident with 1.3 per mille!

The mayor of Hof near Salzburg, Thomas Ließ (ÖVP), has announced his resignation at the end of this week. This step follows a serious incident in which the mayor, who was elected to office in 2013, fell asleep at the wheel while under the influence of alcohol (1.3 per mille). On Sunday around 5 p.m. there was a collision with two oncoming vehicles. Fortunately, everyone involved in the accident was uninjured. The police have already filed a complaint against Ließ, as a blood alcohol level of 1.3 is considered severe intoxication in Austria and has serious criminal consequences, as Kosmo reports.

Ließ expressed regret over the incident and publicly apologized. The district party chairman Josef Schöchl has acknowledged his resignation and announced that a direct mayoral election will take place in the municipality. Ließ has been mayor of Hof near Salzburg since 2013 and in the last election in 2024 he received 60.1 percent of the vote, which secured him a clear victory over the SPÖ candidate.

The course of the accident

At the time of the accident, in which Mayor Ließ may have fallen asleep at the wheel, it was Sunday afternoon. It was a serious incident that put not only the mayor's life in danger, but also those of his fellow citizens. However, no injuries were reported, which defused the situation somewhat. The incident raises questions about the suitability of leaders, especially at a time when dissatisfaction among municipal politicians is growing, as mentioned in a report from Kommunal.

Ließ is an example of the challenges that mayors face today. Excessive state requirements, unfunded tasks and increasing bureaucracy often make the position unattractive. Such factors may also have contributed to Ließ's recent decision to resign from his post. His file note that he chaired a community council meeting during a Corona quarantine also makes it clear how much the current situation is placing a strain on the responsibility of local politicians.

In the coming weeks, the discussion about the mayoral election, which addresses particular challenges in everyday political life, will continue to be at the forefront. The consequences of the Thomas Ließ incident could have far-reaching effects on the future political landscape in Hof near Salzburg.