Hans Scharfetter elected to lead Salzburg ÖVP caucus

Hans Scharfetter has been unanimously elected leader of the Salzburg People’s Party parliamentary group, ORF reported. The 64-year-old lawmaker will replace Wolfgang Mayer, who is taking over as deputy governor from Stefan Schnöll.

The change was formally approved at a party meeting on Monday, following a proposal by Salzburg Governor Karoline Edtstadler. Josef Schöchl, Martina Jöbstl-Bichlmann and Simon Wallner were named as the group’s deputy leaders.

Mayer praised Scharfetter as one of the group’s most experienced members and a parliamentarian respected across party lines. Mayer is expected to be elected as a provincial councillor in the Salzburg state parliament on November 4.

Scharfetter has served in the Salzburg state parliament since 2004 and speaks for the ÖVP on tourism, energy and the economy. In October 2024, the parliament lifted his immunity at his own request after a fatal incident involving a herd of cattle belonging to him on an alpine pasture in the Pongau district the previous August.