Vienna Prepares for Upcoming Elections on April 27

In just one week, on April 27, voters in Vienna will head to the polls to elect their new city council, which also serves as the provincial parliament, along with the 23 district councils. As the election date approaches, the final events of a brief and relatively uneventful campaigning period are set to take place. A significant victory for the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) led by Mayor Michael Ludwig appears almost certain, although securing a majority with their current coalition partner may be challenging.

In light of this uncertainty, Ludwig has kept his options open regarding potential coalition partners, ruling out a collaboration with the Freedom Party (FPÖ). The ÖVP and the Greens, along with the NEOS, are vying to be the junior partners in the next city administration, resulting in a lack of aggressive attacks against the long-ruling SPÖ during the campaign. The FPÖ has been the only party to actively criticize the governing party.

This election cycle has been marked by a lack of controversies, particularly as the campaign's climax coincided with the Easter holidays, leading to a subdued atmosphere. The SPÖ's primary concern now is mobilizing voters, as a complacent turnout could lead to unexpected results despite their confident polling numbers. In the lead-up to the election, all parties are intensifying their efforts to rally support.

On Thursday and Friday, the campaigns will culminate in official closing events. The FPÖ will kick off the final stretch on Thursday at 3:30 PM at Stephansplatz, featuring speeches from party leader Dominik Nepp and the federal party chairman Herbert Kickl. Other parties will hold their concluding gatherings on Friday, with the ÖVP opting for a more grassroots approach through a distribution event rather than a large public gathering. Party leader Karl Mahrer and other officials will meet at 2:30 PM at Rochusmarkt.

The Greens will host their event at the Architekturzentrum in the MuseumsQuartier, featuring speeches from their leading candidate Judith Pühringer, newly appointed federal spokesperson Leonore Gewessler, and former Justice Minister Alma Zadic. The NEOS will hold their gathering simultaneously nearby at the Platz der Menschenrechte, with addresses from federal party chair Beate Meinl-Reisinger and other prominent members.

The SPÖ will conduct its final rally at Viktor-Adler-Markt in Favoriten, where Mayor Michael Ludwig and Vice Mayor Kathrin Gaal will speak. Although Federal Party Chairman and Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler will be present, he is not scheduled to deliver a speech. Polling data indicates that the SPÖ remains stable at just under 40 percent, with the FPÖ trailing significantly at around 22 percent. Although this marks a recovery from the disastrous results of five years ago, it does not create a competitive two-party scenario.

The contest for third place among the Greens, ÖVP, and NEOS will be closely watched, particularly regarding which party will partner with the SPÖ in the 100-member city council. Notably, several candidates are facing legal scrutiny, with three of the seven leading candidates and a district leader under investigation. ÖVP candidate Karl Mahrer has been charged with contributing to embezzlement in a case involving Wienwert, while SPÖ district leader Ernst Nevrivy is also set to face trial in the same matter. Investigations are ongoing against FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp in a separate scandal involving party expenses, as well as against his predecessor Heinz-Christian Strache, who is running with an independent list.

In this election, there is a record number of non-eligible voters. Out of the total of 1,109,936 eligible voters for the city council, over 35 percent do not have voting rights due to the lack of Austrian citizenship. In contrast, the pool of eligible voters for the concurrent district elections is larger, totaling 1,374,712, as citizens from other EU countries can participate at the district level. Each of the 23 districts will have between 40 to 60 mandates up for grabs, with the party that secures the most votes automatically appointing the district leader.