The Campaign's Equine Titan With the Greatest Power

Hear ye, hear ye! Who'd be the chiq ain't-so-secret kingpin of Vienna's civic scene?

That's the hot question on everyone's lips lately, courtesy of the Lazarsfeld Society polling for oe24. They grilled 845 Viennese residents from April 17 to 20 on who they'd choose as their direct mayor. Let's dig in!

Standing tall and proud in the rankings is none other than Michel le Ludwig, who commands a whopping 38% of the votes. Ludwig's popularity surpasses the (projected) 37% his party bagged in the same poll, giving him a mighty boost for the SPÖ.

Close on his heels is Dominik Le Nepp, the FPO's fearless leader, who nabs 24% of the votes—one point better than his party, which nets 23% in those Sundays' surveys.

Alas, the other contenders don't quite measure up to their party's clout: Only 7% of voters fancy OVP leader Karl Mahrer as the big cheese, whereas his party takes home 11%. A mere 6% find Green leader Judith Pühringer fit for the role, and the current deputy mayor, Bettina Emmerling, snags a paltry 1%.

Now, buckle up! It's crucial to note that, at present, there isn't a direct mayoral election in Vienna; instead, the city council elections will decide the mayor based on the party's strength. The SPÖ under Mayor Michael Ludwig is tipped to rule the roost in the upcoming city council elections, although its support has taken a minor tumble compared to the 2020 elections[2][3][4]. As for who'll eventually grab the title, Michel le Ludwig from the SPÖ looks like he's got a strong shot to keep his seat as mayor if the SPÖ remains the dominant party.[2][5] The FPÖ might be clawing its way up, but it's not forecasted to push past the SPÖ[4]. So there you have it—keep those eyes peeled and stay tuned for updates in Vienna's political scene!

The Lazarsfeld Society's recent poll for oe24 revealed that Michel le Ludwig, the SPÖ's contender, is leading in the ranking for the position of direct mayor of Vienna, garnering a substantial 38% of the votes.
Close behind Michel le Ludwig is Dominik Le Nepp, the FPO's leader, whose popularity earned him 24% of the votes, only one point better than his party's projected 23% in the same poll.
OVP leader Karl Mahrer and Green leader Judith Pühringer didn't significantly outpace their parties' voting preferences, with Mahrer receiving 7% and Pühringer receiving 6% of the votes respectively, compared to their parties' projections of 11% and 14%.
In the upcoming city council elections, the SPÖ, led by Mayor Michael Ludwig, is predicted to continue its dominance, although its support has experienced a minor decline compared to the 2020 elections. Michel le Ludwig, the current frontrunner, looks poised to maintain his position as mayor if the SPÖ remains the strongest party.