Contested Vienna Elections: Focus on These Two Districts by FPÖ for Potential Victory
In the upcoming Vienna election, not only is the city council at stake, but also the dominance in the 23 districts of the federal capital. currently, 17 districts are controlled by the SPO, with the OVP and Greens each ruling three districts as mayor. While many districts are expected to remain unchanged, some, like Simmering, are hotly contested, particularly by the FPO, who lost the district mayor position in 2020.
The party with the strongest showing in the district council election has the right to nominate the mayor, although the largest Vienna districts of Donaustadt and Favoriten have minimal political power. Yet, these positions are sought after as "district kings." Many districts have been dominated by the same party for decades, with twelve red districts and the first district (Inner City) always held by the black party since 1946.
This time around, the FPO aims to reclaim lost ground in area districts, with realistic chances in Simmering, where they previously held the district mayor position from 2015 to 2020. The affable former businessman Paul Stadler, who stepped down five years ago, is making another run for the seat. The FPO also has its sights set on traditional SPO strongholds like Floridsdorf, Donaustadt, and Favoriten, districts where the Blues came close to the SPO ten years ago, and even led on the community level in the 21st district in 2015. In the SPO's home district, Mayor Michael Ludwig, the incumbent red district mayor Georg Papai enjoys a comfortable lead, with the district SPO receiving four times as many votes as the FPO in 2020.
Although specific data for the 2023 elections is unavailable, the FPÖ's recent national success and local political dynamics suggest that they could be a significant factor in Vienna's electoral landscape. Local issues, such as housing, crime, and social services, could impact their appeal, while national momentum and coalition dynamics might further influence their chances. Regardless, the FPO presents a formidable opponent in their pursuit of regaining power in targeted districts.
The FPO, aiming to regain lost ground, has set its sights on traditionally strong SPO districts like Floridsdorf, Donaustadt, and Favoriten, where they came close to the SPO ten years ago and even led on the community level in the 21st district in 2015. In politics, the loss in Simmering's district mayor position in 2020 serves as a motivation for the FPO to make another run for the seat, with the affable former businessman Paul Stadler contesting again for the Simmering mayorship.
