On September 29th, Austria will elect a new National Council. Candidates from Linz are also at the top of the regional election lists. My district My City Linz asked which issues are important to you and how you want to represent the state capital in the National Council in the future.
LINZ. MeinBezirk spoke to the top candidates from the regional constituency of Linz and the surrounding area and asked them how they want to represent the region in parliament and how they assess their party’s chances in the election.
ÖVP: “Strong voice for state capital”
Fürlinger wants to enter the National Council again for the ÖVP
Klaus Fürlinger has been a member of the National Council for Upper Austria for the ÖVP since 2017. The lawyer wants to continue to be “a strong voice for our state capital in Vienna”. “The promised investments in the transport sector must be kept. The planned light rail and one or two bypasses for transit traffic will be major issues in the coming years,” said Fürlinger. Fürlinger sees the outcome of the election as open: “We are in the final stretch of these National Council elections and the race for first place is completely open.” The ÖVP represents the middle of society. Neither left nor right radicalism offers Austria a good future perspective.
SPÖ relies on young Linz works council
Young SPÖ duo for Linz and Linz-Land
With Roland Baumann, the SPÖ is putting forward a young top candidate. The 31-year-old from Linz has been a works council member at voestalpine Stahl Linz since 2017 and sits on the Linz municipal council for the SPÖ. “Upper Austria, especially Linz, is the economic engine in Austria.
To ensure that this remains the case, we need clear framework conditions and a future-proof infrastructure for a climate-friendly industry,” said Baumann. He received his mandate by direct election. He wants to enter the National Council with the topics of climate protection, jobs, improvements in the health care system and affordable housing. “The Social Democrats have proven that they can solve difficult issues and will do so again after the election on September 29,” said Baumann confidently.
FPÖ: “The FPÖ is receiving a lot of support”
Michael Schilchegger is the top candidate for the Linz FPÖ
The FPÖ nominated Michael Schilchegger as its top candidate in the regional constituency. The constitutional lawyer sees it as his duty as a future member of the National Council to represent Austrian citizens as a whole. “In other words, not the interests of individual state governors, mayors, the EU Commission or other actors and lobbyists,” said Schilchegger when asked. A “broad majority” of Austrians want a “stop to mass migration and effective deportations of Islamist threats.” He is optimistic about the election. “Many Upper Austrians have had to realize that Chancellor Nehammer and his federal government have failed. The FPÖ is receiving a lot of support,” said Schilchegger.
Greens: “Austria is facing a decision on direction”
Linz city councillor runs for the Greens at regional level
Linz councillor Bernhard Seeber is running for the Greens as number 3 on the regional election list. “It is particularly important for Linz to consistently pursue the transformation into a climate-neutral industrial city,” Seeber is convinced. As a self-employed person, he would also like to get involved in economic issues and work specifically for small and medium-sized businesses and one-person companies. Seeber sees the election as a trend-setter for Austria. “Every vote will help decide whether the Greens are strong enough to enter government and steer Austria towards a good tomorrow and a sustainable and fair future,” says Seeber.
KPÖ: “For the KPÖ, every vote counts”
KPÖ is running in Upper Austria with a top candidate from Linz
The KPÖ has a top candidate from Linz for Upper Austria, Christina Pree. “The focus of my politics is on people, not corporate or profit interests,” says the social economist. She wants to be “a mouthpiece for everyone in Upper Austria who can’t afford it.” She is optimistic about the election. “For the KPÖ, every vote counts. It will be close, but we can get into the National Council,” says Pree. According to Pree, the feedback on the street has been very positive. People value the KPÖ as a “real social and left-wing alternative to the established parliamentary parties.”
For the Neos, Linz councillor Georg Redlhammer is in third place on the regional election list. With Bier, MFG, LMP, Gaza and Keine, a total of eleven lists are up for election.
