Treffen mayor Andreas Fillei dies unexpectedly

Andreas Fillei, the SPÖ mayor of the municipality of Treffen am Ossiacher See, has died unexpectedly at the age of 54, ORF reported. He took office in May 2026 after Klaus Glanznig retired and was expected to be the party’s leading candidate in the 2027 municipal council election.

Fillei had been a member of the municipal council since 2015. He joined the municipal executive in 2023 and became deputy mayor in 2024 before taking the top office in May 2026.

Carinthia SPÖ chairman and state governor Daniel Fellner, district party chairman Manuel Müller and state party secretary David Pototschnig said they were deeply affected by his death.

Fellner said the party had lost an engaged mayor and committed social democrat who had served his municipality with great dedication. Above all, he said, Fillei had been an honest, warm-hearted person and a good friend.

Müller described Fillei as a great supporter, loyal friend and reliable companion. Pototschnig said Fillei had worked with commitment and conviction for social democracy and his home municipality, adding that his sudden death had left a great void.

Patrizia Prettner of the Greens in the municipal council said she had valued working with Fillei and experienced him as an engaged, open and humane mayor who had been willing to listen to concerns across party lines.