SPÖ Graz: Executive board dissolved after election debacle, restructuring by autumn 2027

Historic low and immediate consequences

Until the organisational restructuring, affairs will be managed by acting chairman Hannes Schwarz. State party floor leader Hannes Schwarz has since been running affairs. The interim chair is to organise the transition until the bodies are newly elected at a district conference.

Lercher announced that SPÖ Graz would undergo a "tiefgreifende, inhaltliche und strukturelle Neugründung der Stadtpartei". By autumn of next year, SPÖ Graz will be set up on a new footing. The dissolution of the previous executive board is the starting signal for a new chapter, Lercher said.

Restructuring by autumn 2027

In terms of content, the focus in future is to be placed on the areas of health and care as well as the strengthening of Styrian industry to safeguard jobs. With this, the state party wants to occupy two policy fields that are directly linked to the everyday reality of many voters.

Lercher recalled the successful era of former governor Franz Voves and identified that era as a model for a party to which civil society can directly attach. At the same time, he demanded: "Weniger abgehobene Funktionärsdebatten, mehr Bodenständigkeit".

Policy priorities: Health and industry

With sharp words, the state party chairman turned against internal self-absorption. "Es reicht endgültig mit der permanenten Selbstbeschäftigung und einer Politik, die sich nur noch auf den kleinsten gemeinsamen Nenner einigt", Lercher said. One must allow oneself to be asked whether the SPÖ still wants to be a genuine catch-all party: "Will diese Partei noch eine echte Volkspartei sein oder nicht? Wenn wir eine Volkspartei sein wollen, dann müssen wir auch die gesamte Breite der Bevölkerung abbilden."

At the same time, Lercher criticised the political competition: "Die Leute seien der 'moralischen Überlegenheit, die die etablierten Parteien zuletzt an den Tag gelegt haben, zutiefst überdrüssig - vor allem dann, wenn diese Politik im Alltag der Menschen nichts mehr liefert.'" He also cast doubt on future reform processes: "keiner glaubt mehr an den zehnten weichen Reformprozess, der am Ende ohnehin wieder nirgendwo hinführt".

Protest events and mobilisation

According to the state party chairman's wishes, personal sensitivities are no longer to play a role. "Dazu müssen ab sofort alle Befindlichkeiten hintangestellt werden - ich will nicht mehr über Befindlichkeiten und Parteiinterna diskutieren, davon habe nicht nur ich genug", Lercher said.

In addition to the organisational renewal, Lercher also announced protest events. "Es wird in weiteren Städten mit Spitalsstandorten die Einspruch-Veranstaltung geben und wir mobilisieren unsere Helpline und bringen sie direkt zu den Steirerinnen und Steirern in die Städte." With this, the Styrian SPÖ wants to mobilise on local health issues and expand people-to-people communication.

The restructuring process is to be concluded with a district conference, at which the bodies will also be newly elected. A district conference at which the bodies are newly elected will form the conclusion. Until then, Hannes Schwarz remains in charge as acting chairman.