Now it’s official: Tyrol’s governor Günther Platter (ÖVP) will retire from state politics in the fall. The 68-year-old announced this early Monday afternoon after a meeting of the ÖVP state party executive at a press conference in Innsbruck. Economic Councilor Anton Mattle was unanimously appointed as his successor.
With Platter’s retirement, an era comes to an end. The 68-year-old Oberländer from Zams (Landeck district) has been Governor of Tyrol since July 1, 2008. At that time he succeeded Herwig van Staa after he had lost almost 10 percent for the ÖVP in the state elections. “Now is the right time. Once is enough,” said Platter about his resignation. In any case, he will remain in office until the state elections, which are scheduled for September 25th. Until then, Mattle will stay on for economic affairs. At first there was still an early change at the top, but then an agreement was reached on this course of action. “Hostilities, insults, threats” He had thought a lot in the past weeks and months. The last few years in particular – keyword corona pandemic – have been an enormous challenge. “There was hostility, insults and threats. Not only against me, but also against my personal environment,” says Platter. Platter was 36 years in politics. “As mayor, provincial councilor, national councillor, minister and for the last 14 years as governor. And the job as governor was undoubtedly the best job,” he said at the press conference in Innsbruck. The good moments would clearly outweigh the bad ones. “But there were also one or two days that I wouldn’t want to experience a second time,” Platter continues. Withdraw after announcement Just a year ago, Platter made it clear that he would run again in the next state election. If successful, he would have started his fourth term as governor. The former defense and interior minister is already the second longest-serving governor in Tyrolean political history. Only the legendary Eduard Wallnöfer reigned longer – namely 24 years, from 1963 to 1987.
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