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23. 11. 09. - 14:00

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23. 11. 09. - 14:00

President Fischer to run for a second term in office

By Thomas Hochwarter

Federal President Heinz Fischer announced today (Mon) he will run for a second term in office.

Months of speculation on whether the former Social Democratic (SPÖ) MP would stand for a second term ended with Fischer’s announcement in an online message.

Fischer had said several times over in recent months how much he enjoyed his job, but made clear he did not want to make his decision public too soon in order to avoid a lengthy campaign.

The 71-year-old was expected to clear things up in his National Day Speech on 26 October, but he said at the time he did not want to make use of the speech to announce a personal decision.

And only yesterday, the Kurier and Österreich newspapers claimed that he would make his decision public at the presentation of a biography of him by Elisabeth Horvath to be held at Vienna's Albertina museum on Thursday.

Speaking about what he took into account in making his decision, Fischer said in the video message he was encouraged to run for a second term by many people with different political beliefs.

Fischer said he wanted to be a "bridge builder" in the "difficult years" that were ahead for Austria.

The election will take place in April 2010, and Fischer is seen as clear favourite regardless of who he competes against, especially since Erwin Pröll’s recent announcement he would not be running.

The People’s Party’s (ÖVP) Governor of Lower Austria was seen as the only possible threat to a second term for Fischer. But Pröll recently said he would not stand for the post, arguing he could not break his promises and leave the people of Lower Austria alone during the economic crisis.

ÖVP boss Josef Pröll said Fischer’s announcement was "no surprise". The Vice Chancellor and nephew of Erwin Pröll added his party had not decided yet whether they would nominate a candidate. Pröll did not give a date for when the ÖVP – who form a coalition with the SPÖ at federal level – will announce their decision.

Several senior ÖVP politicians recently said the party should nominate a candidate, calling it the party’s "responsibility" to do so. But Pröll said today: "This country is in need of constant, focused work more than ever – and not an early campaign."

Pröll added his party would continue uniting in overcoming the economic crisis in order to create new growth.

Over the past few weeks, several possible ÖVP presidential candidates apart from Erwin Pröll backed out of possible campaigns. Economy Chamber (WKO) chief Christoph Leitl, former Styrian ÖVP Governor Waltraud Klasnic and Pensioners’ Union head Andreas Khol made clear they were not considering running for the presidency.

Greens leader Eva Glawischnig said the party had not decided yet whether it would nominate its own candidate. "We are not in a rush," she said today, adding that she was not surprised by Fischer’s decision.

Alexander Van der Bellen, predecessor of Glawischnig as head of the party, recently said he could not imagine running for the presidency.

Glawischnig explained the decision on whether to nominate a candidate would also depend on costs since parties or independent candidates are not compensated for their financial expenses in a presidential campaign in Austria – in contrast to campaigns for the federal or provincial parliaments.

She stressed many other important elections such as the Vienna Council vote were coming up.

Josef Bucher, the head of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ), called for political competitors to unite on the question and nominate a candidate to run against Fischer. Bucher revealed he had already held talks with ÖVP boss Josef Pröll about this option.

Bucher refused to mention names, but announced the possible candidate should not be a politician. He added his party would not nominate a candidate of their own if his suggestion fails to find supporters among the ÖVP, the Greens and right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ).

Bucher also said he was convinced there was a conservative majority in Austria.

SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann said he was happy about Heinz Fischer’s decision. Faymann called the president a "reliable reference person, also in delicate and controversial issues."

Faymann added: "His opinion has always been of great importance to me."

The Chancellor said Fischer’s popularity among people would confirm his "excellent work".

Fischer – an SPÖ MP for more than 30 years – won 52.39 per cent of the vote to beat the ÖVP’s candidate Benita Ferrero-Waldner in April 2004. If Fischer wins the upcoming election, it would be his final term in office as presidents are barred from staying in office for a third term in Austria.

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