Austrian Greens delay EU election kickoff amid dropout rumours

Currently polling at 9%, Austria’s Greens may not reach their 2019 EU election record of 14% this time around, as rumours about the party’s favoured candidate, Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler, pulling out of the race may have been the reason for the party cancelling its EU election kick-off congress.

To kickstart the new year with an EU election list led by a high-profile green politician, the Greens had initially scheduled a party congress on 16 December. It has now been pushed to late February.

Initially, rumour in Vienna had it that Gewessler, the Greens’ most prolific minister, would spearhead the party’s EU election campaign but her reported pulling out caused the convention to be cancelled. Similarly, Green Justice Minister Alma Zadic was reportedly not available to run.

The Greens have denied that her withdrawal was the reason for the cancellation. Instead, the party said it wanted to avoid further polarisation in Austria’s tense political climate by engaging in electioneering.

“Election campaigns, we have to be honest, usually contribute to escalation and polarisation,” said the Green’s operating manager, Angela Stoytchev, as quoted by Der Standard.

“And the nomination of candidates for an election is usually the starting signal for an election campaign. As Greens, we have therefore decided that it is better not to start the European election campaign early, just before Christmas,” she added.

(Nikolaus J. Kurmayer | Euractiv.de)

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