Communists win Graz mayoral election, securing significant gains

The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) has emerged victorious in the municipal elections in Graz, Austria's second-largest city. Preliminary projections show the party, led by incumbent mayor Elke Kahr, securing 35.8% of the votes, a notable increase from the 28.9% they received in 2021.

The People's Party (ÖVP) followed with 25.6% of the vote, while the Greens garnered 13.9%, and the Freedom Party (FPÖ) obtained 12.1%. The Social Democrats (SPÖ) received 6.1%, and the liberal Neos secured 4.8%. This electoral success positions the KPÖ to potentially hold 18 seats in the city council.

Mayor Kahr expressed gratitude for the voters' trust, emphasizing her commitment to serving all citizens. While she had hoped for a slight improvement in the results, the extent of the victory exceeded her expectations. The KPÖ, in coalition with the Greens and Social Democrats, is anticipated to command a comfortable majority of 28 out of 48 seats in the city assembly.

Voter turnout for the election stood at 48.8%. The results indicate a strong mandate for the communist party and Mayor Kahr, signaling a continuation of their governance in Graz.

“

She added that she had hoped for a slight improvement in the result from the last election, but did not expect such success.