According to surveys, the KPÖ could get enough votes to return to the National Council this year. If the four percent hurdle can be cleared, two Styrians could enter the National Council.
“The KPÖ is a useful party for the people. If we are represented in communities and in the country, the other parties can no longer do what they want undisturbed. This should also be the case in the federal government. Working people need a credible force in parliament that stands by their side,” said the mayor of Graz All Havoc.
“Whether in housing, care or elementary education: in the state parliament we have proven that we can make a lot of progress as a small opposition party,” says Claudia Klimt-Weithaler, KPÖ club leader in the Styrian state parliament. “Our most important and most successful alliance is always with the population. Through petitions, actions and demonstrations, we ensure that the issues that really matter to people are discussed. This understanding that politics does not have to be done over the heads of the people, but rather together with them, is also urgently needed in the National Council,” emphasizes Klimt-Weithaler.
Main topic: housing
The KPÖ has been putting pressure on affordable housing in the city and the country for many years. “But not everything that is omitted at the federal level can be addressed at the local level,” explains Kahr. “That’s why a force at the federal level that doesn’t always discover the issue of affordable housing until before the elections is so important,” emphasizes They have Wisiak, who will lead the KPÖ’s state list: “We will be annoying and remind the parties of their promises.” The communist is calling for new tenancy law in order to stop the uncontrolled growth of the unfettered market. As a first step, he suggests reducing the benchmark values by 20 percent.
Take neutrality seriously!
“We not only want to maintain neutrality, we also demand that it be adhered to again,” explains the Knittelfeld city council Josef Meszlenyi, who is running for third place on the federal list. “The federal government’s policies have massively damaged the credibility of Austria’s neutrality. It has been undermined for decades. This goes against the will of the majority of the population, who want peace policy instead of rearmament. This requires an honest voice in parliament.” Meszlenyi calls for an end to participation in Sky Shield and EU battle groups.
View from below
More and more people are perceiving politics as nothing more than mudslinging, haggling for positions and self-service. “But politics must mean being there for others, standing up unselfishly for those who otherwise have no lobby and taking people as they are,” summarizes Lisbeth Zeiler their approach to politics. The worker and deputy district manager of Graz-Waltendorf is in second place on the state list.
KPÖ salary cap also in the National Council
Even before the elections, it was clear to the communists: If they entered parliament, they would only keep a skilled worker’s wage of the 10,351 euros gross for themselves and support people in need with the majority of their political salary. Potential communist members of the National Council would also hold consultation hours and have open doors and ears for all concerns.
These are the candidates
They have Wisiak (born 1981) has been politically active since his teenage years. He was co-founder of the youth center in his southern Styrian hometown of Mureck and deputy head boy at the BG/BRG Leibnitz. He joined the Austrian Communist Party in 2000 and, after graduating from high school, moved to Graz, where he studied history, cultural management and English and was active in a variety of functions for the Communist Student Association (KSV) at the ÖH. His thesis on the life and work of the Graz resistance fighter and later KPÖ state chairman Willi Gaisch with Prof. Dieter A. Binder was published as a book by the Graz unipress publishing house.
After the 2012 local elections, Wisiak was elected second deputy district leader in Geidorf and began working as a speaker in the KPÖ local council club. When the KPÖ won a second seat in the city senate in 2017, he became office manager for the new city councilor Robert Krotzer. After the election success in 2021, he became district leader of Geidorf, took over the office management of the local council club and coordinated the coalition of KPÖ, Greens and SPÖ in the Graz town hall.
In his private life, he enjoys hiking, fishing and playing football fields. He is married and a guitarist in a metal band.
Elisabeth Zeiler (born 1968) remembers that everything seemed completely wrong to her from a young age and that everything had to be completely different. From an early age, children can see who has good or bad opportunities; many people are plagued by numerous fears and worries. This ultimately led to her involvement in the communist party. Consistently as an activist, but also as a representative: from 2003 to 2008 as a local councilor in the city of Graz, since 2017 as deputy district leader in the IX. Waltendorf district of Graz.
There isn’t really any private time left aside from housework and family work, political engagement and wage work. But there are interests in dealing with language and languages in all imaginable facets, in painting and in eating sweets with friends.
Josef Meszlenyi (born 1992) was born in Kittsee in Burgenland and grew up in a political family in Halbturn. As a student he came to the Action of Critical Students and the Socialist Youth. He was deputy head boy for four years and was also a member of the local council in his hometown for a period.
After graduating from the commercial academy, he began studying history in Vienna, which he repeatedly interrupted with deployments and exercises as a militia soldier lasting several months. These experiences also make peace politics one of his heartfelt concerns.
Disappointed with the SPÖ, he joined the KPÖ in 2015 and moved to Knittelfeld in 2018. He has been a KPÖ local councilor there since 2020 and has also represented his party on the city council since 2023. He is married and enjoys spending his holidays in Italy, his wife’s home country.
4. Just Michaelaemployee, KJÖ chairwoman, Graz
5. Jürgen Klöschlocal council, carer for the disabled, Bruck/Mur
6. Amrei Lässerlocal councilor, doctor, Graz
7. Markus Pendlcommercial employee, Feldbach
8. Sahar Mohsenzadalocal councilor, employee, Graz
9. Franz Rosenblattllocal councilor, ÖBB pensioner, Mürzzuschlag
10. Daniela Katzensteinerlocal councilor, employee, Graz
11. Simon Riedldistrict councilor, student, Graz
12. Zsofia Heinemanndistrict councilor, student, Graz
13. Philipp Ulrichlocal council, carer for the disabled, Graz
14. Katharina Dianatlocal councilor, farmer, Trofaiach
15. Sebastian Pichlerlocal council, employee, Kapfenberg
16. Hilde TraglerMagna works council, Voitsberg
17. Metin Devecilocal councilor, plumber, Graz
18. Sabine Wagner, local councilor, social worker, Voitsberg
19. Max Zirngastlocal councilor, employee, Graz
20. Sylvia Lammerlocal councilor, social worker, Knittelfeld
21. Mario Zverlocal councilor, painter, Kindberg
22. Elfriede Wieserlocal councilor, pensioner, Fohnsdorf
23. Horst Aliclocal councilor, prison guard, Graz
24. Victoria Diniusdistrict councilor, graphic designer, Graz
25. Rudolf Murilocal councilor, pensioner, St. Barbara
26. Anna Skendercity councilor, pensioner, iron ore
27. Jacob Matschekolocal councilor, employee, Leoben
28. Sandra Rodoschekcommercial employees, Mürzzuschlag
29. Erich Wildinglocal councilor, pensioner, Spielberg
30. Kirsten Tullerteacher, Bruck/Mur
31. René Windeggerlocal councilor, computer scientist, Judenburg
32. Kübra Karatasstudent, Graz
33. Peter jokePensionist, Kainbach
34. Renate Pacherlocal councilor, pensioner, Knittelfeld
35. Christian Whitelocal councilor, process engineer, Trofaiach
36. Silvana WeidingerPensionistin, Graz
37. Udo Runnerlocal council, metal workers, iron ore
38. Stella Köckstudent, Graz
39. Nenad Savićdistrict councilor, contract employee, Graz
40. Sandra Eggerlocal councilor, Voest employee, Leoben
41. Rudolf Windischhofernurse, Fohnsdorf
42. Alexandra HudaMagna works council, Preding
43. Thomas Gesselbauerlocal council, nurse, Mürzzuschlag
44. Karin Gruberdistrict head, social worker, Graz
45. Patrick Webereducator, Knittelfeld
46. Brigitte Syensocial worker, Graz
47. Lubomir Surnevemployee, Graz
48. Lydia Bißmanndistrict councilor, journalist, Graz
49. Alexander Frühwirtworkers, Graz
50. Elke Heinrichslocal councilor, pensioner, Graz
51. David Zöhrersocial worker, Graz
52. Claudia Klimt-Weithalerclub chairwoman, Graz
53. Robert KrotzerCity Councilor for Health, Graz
54. All HavocMayor, Graz
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2024-02-10 17:31:20
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