SPÖ names Manfred Mertel as Klagenfurt mayoral candidate

Manfred “Waschi” Mertel has been chosen as the SPÖ’s mayoral candidate in Klagenfurt, ORF reported. The party executive selected him on Friday afternoon, with Mertel receiving 91 percent of the vote.

The 72-year-old former professional footballer and law graduate defeated SPÖ deputy mayor Ronald Rabitsch. Mertel was appointed to the Federal Council by the Carinthian state parliament in 2023 and served as Klagenfurt’s sports councillor from 2009 to 2011.

Mertel is reportedly not expected to join the city government before the mayoral and municipal council elections in March 2027.