Sitzung von steirischer SPÖ und Abwicklung von Lang-Rückzug

Anton Lang completed his withdrawal from the party at the state board meeting under the heading “SPÖ Styria’s squad for opposition politics”. In his place, Max Lercher, the “party rebel” from Upper Styria, takes the leadership of the opposition for the first time.

Lang didn’t even step in front of the microphones after the meeting. Lercher was given the floor, along with Doris Kampus and Ursula Lackner to his left and right, as well as Jörg Leichtfried and others. Lercher first thanked Lang, who “did everything until the last minute to create the best possible transition in SPÖ Styria.” The appointed party chairman said he was not pushing for publicity but was coming up with solutions in the background.

“I’m often called a party rebel. I thought about why: I think it’s because I like to call things by their names. That’s what I want to continue in my new role. I was elected as the designated chairman with 87 percent of the vote. This is surprising even to me, because to be honest: The movement’s I do not have friends everywhere. It is my duty to strengthen the friendship, I am aware of this and I thank you for your trust. ” At his suggestion, Hannes Schwarz will remain as club president. It was approved with over 93 percent, according to Lercher.

Lercher continued: “We can now go and say: The results were like this because we communicated poorly, were not heard, or did not manage the processes well. I do not want to do this. We realized that we no longer have credibility. I am sorry in many areas, especially for the consequences among workers and women. Vote for FPÖ “There must be a reason for the grant, this reason must be addressed and trust must be established.”

He wants to offer “solutions without ideological blindness”: “The reality of people’s lives, the concerns and difficulties of the Styrians are my political program, we have to confront them. From today onwards, it looks like we will enter into opposition for Styria. For the first time, we will not be openly against everything.” SPÖ wants to contribute as constructively as it can, but wants to be tough in cases where what has been announced is not met.

Lang and Lercher did not make a statement to the media before the meeting, but Leoben Mayor Kurt Wallner, who was one of the first to speak out loudly about a possible coalition with the FPÖ after the election, said: “I expect unity and honesty from the party at the meeting.” He spoke on behalf of Lercher, but also said that there should be “critical and constructive positions” rather than “pre-opposition politics”.

In addition to Lang, Lercher and Wallner, the meeting was also attended by mayors of other cities, such as the mayor of Knittelfeld, Harald Bergmann, and other important representatives of the Styrian SPÖ: trade unionists Josef Muchitsch and Horst Schachner, Klaus Zenz (FSG), Elisabeth Grossmann and the Graz city council club president Daniela Schlüsselberger.

More information on Styrian elections

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.