Vienna National Assembly of the Greens meets – Vienna elections

The Vienna Greens are currently going in rapid succession: after the dismantling of still deputy mayor Birgit Hebein from the club on Monday and her announcement on Wednesday that she would not accept the council’s mandate but will remain party leader, the capital’s state assembly echoes meets on Saturday.

It is the first meeting of the Viennese party’s largest party committee after the SPÖ expelled it from the city coalition. Because of the crown, it takes place online.

At first glance, the agenda seems anything but spectacular. For example, state party secretary Peter Kristöfel is confirmed. Re-apply for the position, as the only candidate. In addition, the election of two federal councilors and two alternate federal councilors, as well as individual delegates to the expanded federal executive committee, is scheduled. However, there will be no drastic personnel decisions or course schedule configuration in the online meeting.

Nonetheless, the state assembly, which begins at 11:30 am and which media representatives can attend via broadcast, should be reasonably exciting. In addition to greetings from Deputy Chancellor and Federal Party Leader Werner Kogler, a speech from Hebein was also announced. This will likely be his first public appearance for the club after his defeat. Until now, he had only commented in social media posts about internal party events or his decision to remain at the top of the party despite resigning his term.

It is also eagerly awaited if there will be a debate by the green base in the course of the state assembly and how intense it will be. After all, there had been discontent in recent days – from the district Greens, for example – with the club’s dealings with Hebein. In the club itself, the vote came out clearly. The outgoing deputy mayor was defeated by a large majority both in the decision of the club’s management – which remains in the hands of David Ellensohn – and in filling the two non-executive council positions that will be held by Peter Kraus and Judith Pühringer.

But there was also criticism from within the club. Green neo-president and close companion of Hebein, Viktoria Spielmann, was upset by “Postenschacher” via social media. “I fight back-door decisions against the will of the rank and file,” he said. Furthermore, the ruckus was at least limited in appearance.