The bar is high, when he first started in 2017, Kurz received 98.7 percent. Special content-related proposals are not expected at the party congress, but Kurz will address current issues such as corona, migration and the climate crisis in his speech and provide the guideline.
Around 1,000 participants are expected. A strict corona security concept applies, the VP said in advance. Accordingly, access is permitted without exception with registration and 3-G proof. The preliminary program begins at 12 noon, moderated by Peter L. Eppinger. The official part of the party congress starts at 1 p.m. with welcoming words from the hostess, Lower Austria’s Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.
Club chairman August Wginger then gives the whip for party leader and chancellor Kurz. The election is scheduled for 3 p.m. In addition to Kurz, his deputies are also elected. The current vice-presidents, Upper Austria’s governor Thomas Stelzer, the Bregenz city councilor Veronika Marte and the Styrian economic state councilor Barbara Eibinger-Miedl are back, as well as financial advisor Andreas Ottenschlger. The result will be announced at around 4 p.m. by the Tyrolean governor, Gnther Platter, who acts as election supervisor. After that, Kurz will speak up again.
Kurz is the fourth party leader, who this year has to face an internal party election. Before him did Beate Meinl-Reisinger from NEOS and Herbert Kickl, who took over FP from Norbert Hofer. Kickl got 88.24 percent, Meinl-Reisinger 93 percent. SP leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner had to face weeks of debates after a meager result of only 75 percent.
