Image: Volker Weihbold
“It was a very difficult phase for the SPÖ, but in the end it was a step forward,” said Upper Austria’s SPÖ regional head, Provincial Councilor Michael Lindner, late yesterday afternoon after the end of the SPÖ Presidium meeting in Vienna.
The discussion lasted more than four hours in order to define the general conditions for the member survey and the subsequent special party conference on June 3rd. The atmosphere was largely very constructive, says Lindner. “I’m glad that in the end we came to unanimous decisions.” That is not a matter of course in view of the complex starting position. “You could tell that we were breaking new ground,” says Lindner.
He is satisfied that his ideas can now also be found in the rules: “Right from the start I wanted us to be open to additional candidatures alongside Pamela Rendi-Wagner and Hans Peter Doskozil.” Lindner does not want to rule out the fact that another heavyweight will actually get into the ring by tomorrow, Friday. But he doesn’t think it’s likely.
It is also important that participation in the survey is easily accessible to all generations in the SPÖ, by postal vote and online.
In yesterday’s meeting, Lindner also offered Linz as a location for the special party conference after the member survey. “We have already checked whether the design center would be free that day. After all, we were able to gain experience with a unification party conference in Upper Austria last year,” says Lindner. As is well known, he was elected state party leader and successor to Birgit Gerstorfer in autumn 2022 – also after a member survey.
Lindner also plans to invite the candidates for party leadership to a discussion in Linz. “It’s important so that the members can get a direct picture of the personalities.”
Source: Nachrichten
