The majority of the parties welcome the renewed appointment of the President. The FPÖ wants to put forward its own candidate.
In Salzburg’s politics there is a lot of support for Alexander Van der Bellen’s re-run in the presidential elections in autumn. Unsurprisingly, the Greens support their ex-boss at the federal level. “I’m thrilled, but not surprised,” says Green leader Heinrich Schellhorn. However: There will be no money from the Salzburg party coffers for Van der Bellen’s election campaign. “The financial support will be broad,” says Schellhorn. Equally unsurprising is the much more critical reaction from FPÖ leader Marlene Svazek. “That was to be expected. With all due respect, you should retire at the age of 78,” she says. Svazek is the deputy of FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl at the federal level. In this function, she clearly advocates a blue opponent. Even if the last FPÖ candidate Norbert Hofer has already announced that he does not want to compete again until 2028. “We certainly do not support Van der Bellen. So it’s relatively clear that we’ll have to come up with an opponent,” explains Svazek. A non-attendance would be an indirect help for the incumbent president. Support, on the other hand, comes from the Salzburg SPÖ and the Neos. “He has led the country through the crises of recent years with a steady hand,” says SPÖ leader David Egger. Neos State Councilor Andrea Klambauer confirms that there will be no Neos candidate of her own: “Just like we did in the second round of the last election.” And the People’s Party? Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) was not available for comment on Sunday.
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