Austrian Chancellor backs embattled party secretary at district meeting

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker made a rare appearance at a district party meeting in Favoriten, a predominantly migrant and SPÖ-dominated area, to publicly back ÖVP Secretary-General Nico Marchetti. Stocker delivered an "emotional" speech, emphasizing communal political virtues, in a move seen as a strong show of support for his close confidant.

Marchetti, who has recently faced media speculation about his position, was unanimously re-elected as the district party leader for Favoriten. Stocker's presence and speech were interpreted as a clear signal that he intends to keep Marchetti in his role as the party's general secretary.

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We must also become more efficient in light of the savings in party funding and are planning some changes in Lichtenfelsgasse over the summer.

The ÖVP is also planning significant organizational changes, including a broader digital transformation of its communication strategy. Marchetti announced plans to become more efficient, particularly in light of reduced party funding. This includes the integration of AI tools and a reallocation of resources towards digital communication.

Specifically, the party aims to create a "turquoise AI portal." This system would be fed with all party documents and programs, enabling it to provide ÖVP-approved answers to various questions for party officials and interested individuals upon request. The party headquarters in Lichtenfelsgasse will undergo several changes over the summer to facilitate this digital shift.

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in the direction of using AI tools and shifting resources towards digital communication.