Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) to welcome new leader, Markus Figl, following Mahrer's resignation.
From 3:30 PM, debate on OVP's future leader kicks off, with Markus Figl, great-nephew of legendary Chancellor Leopold Figl, looming as potential successor to Karl Mahrer.
After a crushing electoral defeat, the OVP remained mum on Monday, unwilling to comment - until early morning, when the fog began to lift, and District Mayor of the 1st district, Markus Figl, became the frontrunner for the new OVP leader.
- OVP lost primarily to FPO
- SPO leads in all districts, OVP bleeds everywhere
- Everyone begging for an SPO coalition
Mahrer and Sverak Fueled the FPO's Victory
The shock was expected: With Karl Mahrer as its leader, the OVP lost over half its votes – and today, they may be overtaken by NEOS, making the smallest city party. Mahrer's "FPO-light" strategy, designed to stop the vote drain towards the Blues, has spectacularly flopped. Instead, Mahrer and his party secretary Peter Sverak pushed the FPO's themes and ensured their triumph.
"No Taboos"
Discussions about the party leader started immediately. While Mahrer left open on election night whether he would bear the brunt of the defeat and step down, it was confirmed on Monday. The 70-year-old will soon stand trial as a defendant. A senior OVP figure, Ingrid Korosec, had already stated on Sunday that there can be "no taboos" now. Even Vienna Chamber of Commerce President Walter Ruck pressed for Mahrer's removal.
Favor Figl over Resch
However, the pool of potential successors was limited: The initial favorite was Daniel Resch, the district mayor of Döbling, who is known for his economic acumen and is considered a Ruck man.
But it seems another candidate has arisen: Markus Figl, the 1st district's mayor, is rumored to be Mahrer's successor, confirmed multiple times by oe24. Figl is likely to be proposed by Mahrer, and although it's not a fait accompli, he is expected to take over.
Who is Markus Figl?
Firstly, he is the great-nephew of Chancellor Leopold Figl, who reigned from 1945 to 1953 and was popular for his folksy charm. As Foreign Minister, Leopold Figl was a signatory of the State Treaty in 1955. Markus Figl's grandfather was Leopold Figl's elder brother.
Markus Figl entered politics through Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger's office, where he worked. In 2005, he became the deputy (formerly with the FPO) city councilor Ursula Stenzel and has served as the District Mayor of the Inner City since December 22, 2015.
- The economic and social policy of the OVP, under the leadership of Karl Mahrer, was criticized for its "FPO-light" strategy, which led to the party's devastating defeat in the recent elections.
- The presidium of the OVP is expected to propose Markus Figl, the 1st district's mayor, as the new leader, following Mahrer's planned departure after the party's electoral loss.
- Markus Figl's political career began in the office of Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger, and he has since served as the District Mayor of the Inner City since December 2015.
- The OVP's defeat in the elections has led to demands for policy and legislation changes in the party, with Vienna Chamber of Commerce President Walter Ruck calling for Mahrer's removal.
- The political landscape has been significantly shifted by the recent war-and-conflicts and general-news events, with the FPO seeing a surge in support, and the OVP's future leadership and migration policies are a prominent topic of discussion.
