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The Greens and NEOS also applauded, while the FP, like the VP, suffered heavy losses in some municipalities. But that didn’t change the fact that almost all mayors remained “black.”
Elections in the 96 municipalities of Vorarlberg were held due to the crown pandemic with six months “delay” (original date of the elections: March 15) and under the strictest hygiene and safety regulations. Voters were urged to enter polling stations with only mouth and nose protection. About 17.2 percent of the 301,572 eligible voters, 51,739 people, had a voting card issued. That was about 75 percent more than in the spring.
The counting of the ballots was long delayed, on the one hand due to the high number of ballot papers, on the other hand it was also due to the fact that, for the first time since the introduction of the direct mayoral election in 2000, two ballots. The participation was 53.40 percent (2015: 58.56 percent).
The Popular Party struggled with municipal council elections, especially in the cities and also in the larger municipalities. At Hohenems and Hard on Lake Constance, for example, the match literally crashed and lost in the double-digit percentage point range. In Lustenau the absolute majority was lost. The VP had already entered its absolute majorities in the cities five years ago. For the FP, there was no great success in the election of local councils either. The SP, for its part, was satisfied with the good results in Bludenz, Bregenz and, above all, Hard. The Greens celebrated their “best ever result”, the NEOS, for having reached local parliaments in ten of the eleven municipalities in which they stood for election.
In the direct election of the mayor, the president of the state party SP, Martin Staudinger, gave the great surprise. Not only did he reach the second round of the elections in two weeks, but he also surpassed incumbent Eva Maria Mair (VP). Staudinger got 35.40 percent of the vote, Mair got 32.79 percent. If Staudinger won the second round in his home community on September 27, he would resign from the presidency of the Social Democrats.
The two SP candidates Mario Leiter (in Bludenz) and Michael Ritsch (in Bregenz) also have prospects for the mayor’s seat. Both have already reached the second round of elections against the mayor of the VP in the past. While Leiter’s deficit over Simon Tschann (VP) wasn’t too big on Sunday, Ritsch would have to turn on the turbo in the next two weeks to overtake Mayor Markus Linhart (VP). The SP held the two mayor seats in St. Gallenkirch and Brs (both in the Bludenz district).
For the Freedom Party, the former leader of the state party Dieter Egger stood out, who improved his personal result in 2015 and that of his party in Hohenems. Egger remains mayor with more than 63 percent of the voters. Florian Kasseroler in Nenzing and Florian Kng in Vandans (both in Bludenz district) were confirmed. In Fuach (Bregenz district), the FP lost a mayor’s chair, Ernst Blum no longer competed.
There has never been enough for the mayor of the Greens. In Lochau (Bregenz district), candidate Frank Matt reached the second round. He has about 150 votes behind Mayor Michael Simma (VP).
The second round elections will be held in six municipalities on September 27, more than ever. The previous record was five. The Lech am Arlberg decision will also arouse great interest. Long-term mayor Ludwig Mxuel (since 1993) could be removed from the noble ski resort due to differences in the design of the new community center.
