The party announced this in a press conference on Wednesday. The list will be elected at a state assembly next February. Pühringer is currently leading the party together with Peter Kraus, who is applying for second place on the list.
The Pühringer-Kraus duo has been in office since May 202. Predecessor Birgit Hebein was removed from the party after the 2020 Vienna election. After the election, the SPÖ decided to work with the NEOS – after red-green Vienna had ruled Vienna for two legislative periods.
The 2020 election result was certainly positive for the Greens. They were able to achieve their best result to date with 14.8 percent. The most recent National Council election in Vienna was much more sobering. The Eco Party lost 8.4 percentage points. It came in fourth place with 12.3 percent, just ahead of the NEOS.
How is the SPÖ, traditionally strong in Vienna, responding to the challenge from the Greens and the Communist Party in the upcoming elections?
## Vienna’s Political Landscape: An Interview
**Host:** Welcome back, viewers. Joining us today is political analyst Dr. Eva Schmidt to discuss the upcoming Vienna elections and the surprising predictions coming out of the Voice of Vienna. Dr. Schmidt, the article suggests the SPÖ, traditionally strong in Vienna, might be facing some serious competition. Can you elaborate?
**Dr. Schmidt:** Absolutely. While the SPÖ is predicted to remain Vienna’s strongest party, it’s facing a new challenge this time around: the Greens and the Communist Party are gaining ground. It seems Viennese voters are responding to the Greens’ emphasis on environmental issues and the Communist Party’s focus on economic inequality.
This isn’t entirely unexpected, given the recent performance of the Greens. As the Voice of Vienna pointed out [[1](https://voiceofvienna.org/2024/09/austrias-political-pulse-viennas-pivotal-role-in-the-upcoming-national-assembly-elections/)], they achieved their best-ever election result in Vienna back in 2020.
**Host:** Interesting. So, the SPÖ needs to be wary.
**Dr. Schmidt:** Precisely. While their commitment to social justice, affordable housing, and workers’ rights continues to resonate, they can’t afford to become complacent. The Greens and the Communist Party are offering viable alternatives, particularly to younger and more environmentally conscious voters.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Schmidt, for providing your valuable insights.
