Farmers’ Association holds first place in Carinthia chamber election

The Farmers’ Association held on to first place in Sunday’s election to Carinthia’s Chamber of Agriculture, winning 47.15 per cent of the vote, according to ORF. The list led by chamber president Siegfried Huber gained 0.8 percentage points and retained its 18 seats, exactly half of the chamber.

The Freedom Party Farmers’ Association finished second with 26.15 per cent, up 5.6 percentage points, and gained three seats to reach 10. The Community of Carinthian Farmers, or SJK, came third with 10.9 per cent, down 0.7 points, and kept its four seats.

The SPÖ Farmers’ Association fell from 10.9 to 8.5 per cent and lost one seat, leaving it with three. The Heimo Urbas list won 4.7 per cent, down from 6 per cent at the previous election, and lost one seat, leaving it with one. The Green Farmers’ Association’s share nearly halved from 4.6 per cent in 2021 to 2.6 per cent, costing it its only seat. Turnout edged up from 36.02 to 36.34 per cent.

Huber said he was pleased his list had made a small gain after a closely contested campaign and retained its four seats on the chamber’s executive board. Freedom Party state leader Erwin Angerer said his group had achieved its strongest result in 25 years and described the vote as a call for change in farmers’ representation.

SPÖ lead candidate Ralph Dörflinger said the result had not met the group’s expectations but that it would continue working for the farming community. SJK lead candidate Marjan Čik said he was glad the group had retained its executive board seat.