Evangelical synod will repeat election of new president

2023-06-29 18:29:05

Two-thirds majority not achieved in last possible ballot

Vienna (OTS) – The election of the President: in the evangelical synod is repeated. In the election on June 29 in Vienna, no candidate achieved the required two-thirds majority in the eighth and last possible ballot according to the election regulations. The Lower Austrian superintendent curator Gisela Malekpour received 32 votes, and the curator of the parish of Vienna-Innere Stadt Helmut Tichy 25 votes. A two-thirds majority, or 39 votes, was required for a valid election.

The Burgenland superintendent curator Christa Grabenhofer, who had also stood for election, was eliminated after the 5th ballot. The next election will take place at the upcoming Synod, which will be held in Eisenstadt from December 7th to 9th.

“The necessary two-thirds majority is a very high hurdle, which the Evangelical Church consciously demands when electing high-level officials in order to ensure the broadest possible trust,” Bishop Michael Chalupka explained to the Evangelical Press Service. The result is a sign that the synod could not decide between well-qualified people, said the bishop before the synod. The bishop thanked the candidates for their great honorary commitment that they have faced this election. The result also shows that both candidates are seen “as important and central to the life of our church”. “I ask that you continue to bring this willingness to bear in other functions,” Chalupka addressed Gisela Malekpour and Helmut Tichy, who the synod thanked for their candidacy with long applause.

The Synod is the highest legislative body of the Evangelical Church. Around 70 secular and spiritual delegates from all over Austria belong to it.