Big applause at the result of the FP, restrained applause of the own result and perseverance: The mood among the officials of the SP in Linz Central was mixed. Some people criticized behind closed doors that there had been clapping at all, but remained roughly at the level of the historically worst result in 2015. The plus for the SP is only marginal. Until that evening they hoped to regain second place from the FP – but it didn’t work out.
Leading candidate and state rider Birgit Gerstorfer saw a neck-and-neck race with the FP. With “more competition, more parties in the state parliament”, she sees the slight plus as a success: “We are the only party that scored points with content such as care, work and education.” In the party talks that Thomas Stelzer (VP) announced for this week, the SP will “of course” enter: “I have never ruled out a cooperation and will continue to do so.”
- ON-TV: Birgit Gerstorfer in Interview
“The plus did not turn out as I would have expected – but at least the downward trend has stopped,” said Chamber of Labor President Johann Kalliauer, who had hoped for more than 20 percent. “But I honestly have to admit, I didn’t expect MFG, that obviously shook the whole thing up and shuffled the cards.” He does not participate in any speculation about personnel in the SP. “Those in charge will think about how to position themselves for the next six years,” said Kalliauer, who is not part of the party presidency that meets today, Monday. Was there any mistake in the election campaign? “Mistakes happen in every election. But there weren’t any serious ones.” Much went down in the corona and vaccination debate.
“You can never be satisfied in politics,” said Alois Stger, Member of the National Council and ex-Federal Minister. The result shows that the content campaign has paid off, but “it also shows that we have to do more”. Should that be done with Birgit Gerstorfer as party leader? “Yes, with her and the team that set her up. The team is okay.”
Everyone was silent about who should become the second regional councilor for the SP, if one got this because of the electoral arithmetic. In any case, there should be no way around the power blocs trade union and city of Linz on this issue.
