Latest poll: The Freedom Party reaches 38% in Styria
A new survey conducted by the Institute for Demoscopy and Data Analysis for the Kronen Zeitung newspaper revealed that the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) led by Mario Kunasek would receive 38% of the votes in Steiermark if local elections were held next Sunday. This represents an increase compared to the recent November elections, where the party received about 35%.
In contrast, the decline of the Austrian People's Party ÖVP, led by Deputy Governor Manuela Khom, continues, as it received only 24% of the voting intentions, a decrease of three percentage points since last fall, and the repercussions of the previous loss and the ousting of former leader Christopher Drexler continue to affect the party.
The Social Democratic Party SPÖ, led by its new leader Max Lercher, saw a slight improvement, receiving 22%. Meanwhile, the results for the Green Party remained stable at 6%, with no significant change. Additionally, both the Neos Party and the KPÖ received 5% each.
Polling expert Christoph Haselmaier from the institute explained that the rise of the FPÖ party came at the expense of its former coalition partner ÖVP, noting that the party has become, in some areas, a kind of "people's party". He also pointed out that the SPÖ has begun to regain its stability after its loss and exit from local government. As for the Greens, they have not recently attracted attention with any notable political initiatives, while Nico Swatek represents the most prominent face of the Neos party.
.