Vienna Medical Association before decisive plenary assembly: Two motions against President Steinhart

According to the rules of procedure, a two-thirds majority would be required to vote Steinhart out. As recently as October 2023, an initial motion of no confidence against him had failed: of 81 valid votes, 44 voted against him, but at least 54 votes were needed for his ouster. At that time, the Szekeres list had still supported Steinhart – that support is now considered fragile.

Background: Failed motion of no confidence from 2023

The motion of no confidence accuses the chamber leadership of weakness in leadership and a paralysis of the chamber through personnel reshuffles. In the wording, it states that Steinhart is characterized by "Führungsschwäche nach innen" and a "Lähmung der Kammer durch Personalrochaden, Kündigungen, zuletzt teure Freistellungen". The Szekeres list also accuses the leadership of repeated misconduct and inadequate representation of Vienna's physicians.

Opposition's allegations

Politically, the dispute is also a confrontation between the two major camps in the chamber: Steinhart's faction "Vereinigung" is considered close to the ÖVP, while the Szekeres list is attributed to the SPÖ. The Szekeres list had previously supported the fragile coalition in the Vienna chamber – with the motion to dissolve the plenary assembly, it is now calling this support into question.

Vice President Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied, who is attributed to Steinhart's camp, also criticized in this context the plans for a health think tank of the Vienna Medical Association. This is said to "1,5 Millionen Euro pro Kalenderjahr an Kollegengeldern kosten". According to information from the chamber, the establishment of the think tank is currently under legal review.

Dispute over the health think tank

Kamaleyan-Schmied also recalled that the position of a third vice president had only been abolished a few years ago for cost reasons. Now, in the course of the plenary assembly, an amendment to the statutes to reintroduce this office is to be put to the vote. If passed, the new third vice president would conduct business when the president is unavailable.

Should Steinhart lose his position in Vienna, according to the statutes, his function at the head of the Austrian Medical Association, which he also holds, would fall away at the same time. The Vienna plenary assembly on Tuesday evening would thus also have nationwide implications for the medical professional association.

Implications for the Austrian Medical Association

The conflict in the Vienna Medical Association is not the only one to break out in an interest group on this day: the Upper Austrian Economic Chamber is also holding a meeting on Tuesday, at which internal disputes play a role. The Vienna proceedings are reported on by, among others, David Krutzler; the date of the underlying report is June 8, 2026.

Overall, much indicates that the meeting on Tuesday evening will bring a directional decision for the Vienna Medical Association: if the opposition around Szekeres fails to mobilize the necessary two-thirds majority, Steinhart remains in office and can continue to push forward the health think tank as well as the amendment to the statutes regarding the third vice presidency. If, on the other hand, it succeeds, a phase of reorientation at the top of the professional association is to be expected – with an open outcome also at the federal level.