This resulted in a corresponding vote among the delegates at the party congress. Sprickler-Falschlunger received the votes of 140 of the 162 voting delegates; what was required for them was a two-thirds majority.
Subsequently, the election of the new state party leader was tackled. Robert Bedjanic withdrew his candidacy in view of Sprickler-Falschlunger’s appearance. The candidates who remained for the time being – club chairman Thomas Hopfner, Angelika Mayr, Alp Sanlialp and Sprickler-Falschlunger – now each had 15 minutes to present themselves and their ideas. There were many indications of a battle vote between Hopfner, who upheld his candidacy, and Sprickler-Falschlunger.
Disappointment in their own ranks
In the morning, several party members – including prominent ones – expressed their disappointment over the events in the party in the past few weeks. Mario Leiter (Bludenz) and Gebhard Greber (Dornbirn) called for unity. Head, however, also advocated a separation between the functions of “club boss” and “party boss” – which was a recommendation for Sprickler-Falschlunger.
Even the party leader Martin Staudinger had described unity in the party as the “essential”. Lately the public has “been given the feeling that things are not going well, to say the least”.
In the past weeks and months there had been serious disagreements in the SP Vorarlberg, which culminated in the so-called “Abhraffre”. A telephone dispute between Hopfner and the Mayor of Bregenz, Michael Ritsch – the SP chief between 2007 and 2016 – is said to have been recorded or filmed by another person without his knowledge, possibly also passed on. Investigations by the public prosecutor’s office are ongoing.
Rendi-Wagner: “Politically turbulent times”
In a video message from Vienna, Federal Party Chairman Pamela Rendi-Wagner spoke of “politically turbulent times”. Sebastian Kurz (VP) has led the government and the country into a serious crisis. She called the government reshuffle a farce that Kurz would continue to pull the strings as shadow chancellor. “The coalition will not last much longer,” said the SP leader. Austria deserves better than serious allegations of corruption, the SP can be relied on: “We are the answer!” Addressing the SP Vorarlberg, she stated: “I am convinced that you are making the right decision.”
