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Vienna's Election (Election) Stands Apart

Comment from Isabelle Daniel, Political Editor-in-Chief, discussing the Vienna election results

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read

Vienna's Election (Election) Stands Apart

Vienna's 2025 Election: A New Spin on an Old City

The city of Vienna, famed for its quality of life, is gearing up for a 2025 state and municipal election. Despite its accolade as the world's most livable city for three years straight, Viennese voters are brimming with discontent - prickly about rising rents, energy and food prices, escalating insecurity, and the perceived lack of integration efforts.

In this tense political landscape, the SPÖ (Social Democratic Party), Vienna's reigning front-runner, is expected to hold onto its leading position, albeit reaching 40% might be a stretch. The SPÖ's campaign strategy zeroes in on the city's unique issues, leaving federal politics to take a back seat.

Meanwhile, the FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) has been predicted to be the biggest winner from the surging voter dissatisfaction. Though they're anticipated to see a substantial leap from their current 7%, they remain second fiddle to the SPÖ in Vienna. The ÖVP (Austrian People's Party), focusing predominantly on immigration and neglecting the economy, looks set to take a tumble, inadvertently paving the way for the FPÖ's advance.

Contrary to the pessimistic outlook, the Greens might snatch a few more votes than anticipated, potentially dealing a blow to the SPÖ. Curiously, dissatisfied SPÖ supporters could opt for SPD mayor Michael Ludwig over the NEOS (New Austria and Liberal Forum).

In the election landscape, the Vienna SPÖ towers high, even managing to entice centrist voters. For better or worse, it's clear that Vienna remains different from the rest.

Behind the Scenes

As the election approaches, though not imminently, several factors play a big role in predicting the outcomes:

  • Livability and Economic Stability: Vienna's reputation as a truly livable city has been cemented, with forecasts of maintaining the moniker in the coming years[2].
  • Security: Security has emerged as a significant topic, being addressed by all major parties to some extent[3].
  • Government Formation at the Federal Level: Ongoing developments in federal politics have overshadowed the local election campaign, potentially dampening voter turnout[3].

Contenders in the Race

The 2025 Vienna election pits four major parties against each other:

SPÖ (Social Democratic Party)

  • Expectations are that the SPÖ will maintain its grip on Vienna's politics with a predicted vote share of at least 40%, according to recent polls[2][3].
  • The SPÖ's campaign strategy trots out Vienna-specific issues to cost the federal politics scene.

FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria)

  • Surveys suggest the FPÖ could capture about 21% of the vote, positioning them as a formidable adversary but not enough to unseat the SPÖ[2].

ÖVP (Austrian People's Party)

  • The ÖVP is tipped to land roughly 11% of the votes, making it a possible ally for coalition talks with the SPÖ[2].

Greens and NEOS

  • Greens: Polls indicate the Greens could secure 12% of the vote, bolstering their status as a potential partner for the SPÖ[2].
  • NEOS: The NEOS could secure around 10% of the vote, having engaged in discussions with the SPÖ in previous elections[1][2].

As the election draws near, the political landscape in Vienna continues to shift like the tides. The SPÖ aims to maintain its ironclad grip, the FPÖ eagerly anticipates a surge in support, and the ÖVP braces for a fall. The Greens and NEOS watch with keen eyes, positioning themselves to make a difference in coalition negotiations.

  1. The true livability and economic stability of Vienna has been forecasted to maintain its reputation in the coming years.
  2. Security has become a significant topic in the election, being addressed by all major parties to some extent.
  3. Government formation at the federal level has overshadowed the local election campaign, potentially dampening voter turnout.
  4. Despite the SPÖ's projected vote share of at least 40%, their campaign strategy focuses on Vienna-specific issues to distance themselves from federal politics.
  5. The FPÖ is predicted to capture approximately 21% of the vote, making them a formidable adversary but not enough to unseat the SPÖ.
  6. The ÖVP is tipped to land roughly 11% of the votes, making it a possible ally for coalition talks with the SPÖ, while inadvertently paving the way for the FPÖ's advance.
  7. The Greens might secure 12% of the votes and bolster their status as a potential partner for the SPÖ, with dissatisfied SPÖ supporters potentially opting for SPD mayor Michael Ludwig over the NEOS, who could secure around 10% of the vote.

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