Graz coalition to unveil five-year plans in livestream

Graz’s KPÖ and Greens will present their coalition’s priorities for the next five years at a press conference in Graz City Hall on Friday, ORF reported. The event will be livestreamed from 12 p.m.

The coalition, presented under the motto “We’re carrying on,” is also expected to announce how responsibilities will be divided within the city government. The portfolios could shift compared with the past five years.

Mayor Elke Kahr, city councillors Robert Krotzer and Manfred Eber, all from the KPÖ, and Deputy Mayor Judith Schwentner of the Greens will present the agreement.

The two parties decided after only a few exploratory talks to continue working together. In the June 28 election, the KPÖ retained three seats in Graz’s city senate and will continue to provide three city councillors. The ÖVP retained two seats, the Greens one, while the FPÖ returned to the city senate.

The KPÖ won 43,145 votes, or 35.70 percent, up 6.86 percentage points. The ÖVP received 30,554 votes and 25.28 percent, followed by the Greens with 18,066 votes and 14.95 percent. The FPÖ won 14,509 votes and 12 percent.

The SPÖ received 6,802 votes and 5.63 percent, losing its parliamentary group status. NEOS won 5,951 votes and 4.92 percent. The KFG received 822 votes and 0.68 percent, while MFG, the Pirates, Liste GAZA and DBÖ failed to enter the city council.