Mario Leiter, new SPÖ leader in Vorarlberg: 88.7 percent approval

2023-10-07 11:27:24

The approval of the 168 delegates was 88.69 percent. This succeeds leader Gabriele Sprickler-Falschlunger (67), who relinquished the party chairmanship for the second time. Leiter formulated entry into the state government as a goal, federal party leader Andreas Babler raised the mood and wants to win the National Council election in 2024.

The married father of a family, Leiter (one son), was not only appointed as the new Vorarlberg SPÖ leader on Saturday, but was also nominated as the top candidate for the state elections in autumn 2024. With his 88.69 percent – 168 of 169 delegates cast their votes, 149 voted for him – Leiter did significantly worse than the recent party leaders before him. Michael Ritsch was appointed SPÖ leader in his first election with 97 percent, as was Gabriele Sprickler-Falschlunger. Martin Staudinger even received 99.3 percent. However, Leiter spoke of an “incredible result” and declared the 2024 state election campaign open.

Leiter opened his speech before the vote with the words “It’s going to be exciting.” The 58-year-old – he is commander of the Bludenz city police – traced his life from a humble background, which also included an apprenticeship as a retail salesman. He entered politics in 2015. After two very narrow electoral defeats in the mayoral elections in his hometown of Bludenz, Leiter withdrew from politics again. He returned because so many people on the street kept telling him where the problem was, said Leiter. “Politics is always a question of attitude,” he emphasized.

“Solving problems together”

He formulated his goal as entering the state government after the state elections in 2024. “It is important that people recognize: Social Democracy is an alternative. We can do better!” As SPÖ party leader, he wants to focus on “cooperation instead of confrontation”. Politicians must work together to “solve problems for this country,” emphasized Leiter. Life must become affordable again, he repeated several times. He also touched on topics such as social housing and the healthcare system, “starter apartments” for 18 to 25 year olds and free kindergarten.

Federal party leader Babler – he received a standing ovation at the end of his speech – set the mood by mentioning practically every point of the SPÖ party program in an emotional speech. Rights of children and women, poverty, health and social affairs, wealth taxes, as well as inflation and affordable housing. When it comes to global warming, Babler warned against “postponing the fight.” The SPÖ federal party leader said of the government: “The country is being driven to the wall.” To criticize everything that needs to be criticized, “we would need the whole weekend,” said Babler.

Review and Nehammer video

Babler also spoke to the video of Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). Every half-sentence is “highly problematic” and paints a “picture of disregard for people.” Sprickler-Falschlunger had previously found similar words and attested that Leiter was the “requirement for a party chairman in the social democracy” – that Leiter had respect for people. Social democracy does not see people as a problem, but rather the conditions, said Babler. Bruno Kreisky made conditions better for people in the 1970s and was therefore so well received. In order to be able to do that, “we have to win the election,” he said about the National Council election next year. He hoped that the SPÖ could see the “threesome” as a lower bar.

Babler, Sprickler-Falschlunger and Leiter made the current abortion debate in Vorarlberg the topic of discussion. All three considered it an unacceptable situation that abortions were not carried out in hospitals in Vorarlberg.

The mayor of Bregenz, Michael Ritsch – himself SPÖ party leader from 2007 to 2016 – paid tribute to both Leiter and Sprickler-Falschlunger in his words. He suggested that Sprickler-Falschlunger be made honorary chairwoman – this wish was unanimously granted at the end of the party conference. Ritsch scattered flowers to the federal party chairman, saying he had proven his skills in Traiskirchen. “You will lead us into a successful election with at least a threesome in front of it,” said the mayor.