KPÖ Triumphs in Graz, Coalition with Greens Possible Even Without SPÖ

The KPÖ party has decisively won the municipal council election in Graz, Austria, with Mayor Elke Kahr securing a repeat of her surprising 2021 victory. Preliminary results show the KPÖ garnered 36% of the vote, a significant increase from their 2021 result of 28.9%.

The center-right ÖVP came in second with 25.1%, a slight decrease from their previous performance. The Green Party secured third place with 14.8%, despite a drop in support, narrowly ahead of the FPÖ, which received 12%. The SPÖ experienced a historic low, falling to 5.8%, below their previous worst result, while the NEOS also failed to reach their 2021 numbers.

With these results, the current coalition of KPÖ, SPÖ, and Greens holds a comfortable majority of 28 seats in the 48-seat council. Notably, the KPÖ could also form a slim majority with just the Greens, even if the SPÖ loses another seat as indicated by projections.

The election saw a voter turnout of approximately 52.7%, marking a new record low, down from 54% in 2021. Several smaller parties and lists, including KFG, GAZA, DBÖ, PIRAT, and MFG, did not secure seats on the council.