Linz Mayoral Race Headed to a Runoff: SPÖ vs. FPÖ

Linz Mayoral Race Headed to a Runoff: SPÖ vs. FPÖ

APA/FOTOKERSCHI/BERNADETTE KERSCHBAU

Acting Deputy Mayor Dietmar Prammer of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and City Councilor Michael Raml of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) will go head-to-head in the runoff election for Linz’s top office on January 26. Prammer received 40.2 percent of the votes on Sunday, while Raml secured 20.2 percent. Voter turnout came in at just 42.2 percent, significantly lower than the 57.5 percent recorded in 2021.

Deputy Mayor Martin Hajart (ÖVP) placed third with 18.3 percent, followed by City Councilor Eva Schobesberger (Greens) in fourth with 13.0 percent. Next were council members Lorenz Potocnik (Linz+) with 3.6 percent, Gerlinde Grünn (KPÖ) with 2.4 percent, and Georg Redlhammer (Neos) with 2.3 percent.

Almost 152,000 people were eligible to vote. Polls opened at 7:00 a.m. and closed at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Voters had seven candidates to choose from.

The Linz election generated particular interest as it was the first since talks on a potential conservative-social democrat-NEOS (black-red-pink) coalition at the federal level fell apart, leading to new negotiations between the Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP). Adding to the uncertainty was the resignation of Mayor Klaus Luger over the “Brucknerhaus affair.” This meant the Social Democrats (SPÖ), who have held power since 1945, faced an election that was far from a sure thing.

Short Term Until 2027

Normally, mayoral and municipal council elections in Upper Austria coincide with the state election every six years. But if a mayor steps down before the final third of his term, a new election must be held. As a result, Luger’s successor will only serve for two and a half years; another regular election is scheduled for 2027. The balance of power in the city council remains the same: SPÖ holds 22 seats, ÖVP 11, the Greens 10, and FPÖ 9. NEOS, KPÖ, and Linz+ each have 2 seats. MFG (2 seats) and Wandel (1 seat) did not field a mayoral candidate this time.

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