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24. 11. 09. - 16:15

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24. 11. 09. - 16:15

Salzburg ÖVP boss calls for party presidential candidate

By Thomas Hochwarter

People’s Party (ÖVP) leaders in Salzburg have backed ÖVP Lower Austria governor Erwin Pröll’s calls for the party to nominate its own candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.

ÖVP deputy governor of Salzburg Wilfried Haslauer said today (Tues) a party such as the ÖVP "representing the interests of the state" should nominate a candidate for the post.

The call comes a day after incumbent president Heinz Fischer – a former Social Democratic (SPÖ) MP – ended months of speculation by saying he would run for a second term in office.

It also comes after Pröll called on federal ÖVP chiefs to nominate a party candidate and suggested former Audit Office (RH) Franz Fiedler for the post.

Pröll earlier ruled himself out of the running, despite analysts saying his candidacy would be the only possible threat to a second term for Fischer.

ÖVP Salzburg boss Haslauer has refused to mention names of potential ÖVP candidates, but said he had several people in mind who were qualified for the job.

ÖVP Vorarlberg governor Herbert Sausgruber refused to comment on the issue, arguing the federal party board was responsible for deciding on a candidate. "I do have a personal opinion in the question, of course, but there is no point in every provincial department announcing their views," he said.

New ÖVP Vienna head Christine Marek refused to give her opinion. "The ÖVP will certainly not start an early election campaign, but will decide on the issue when the time is ready," she said.

Meanwhile ÖVP Styria leader Hermann Schützenhöfer said any party candidacy had been marred because party members had been publicly at odds over the issue.

Fischer said in an online message published yesterday he had been encouraged to run for a second term by many people with different political beliefs. The 71-year-old added he hoped to become a "bridge builder" in the "difficult years" that were ahead for Austria.

Federal ÖVP boss Josef Pröll and Greens leader Eva Glawischnig called Fischer’s decision "no surprise". Both party chiefs said they were "in no rush" in deciding whether to nominate their own candidates.

Josef Bucher, the head of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ), meanwhile called for political competitors to unite on the question and nominate a candidate to run against Fischer. Bucher said the candidate should not be a politician.

SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann said he was happy about Fischer’s decision. Faymann said Fischer’s popularity among people would confirm his "excellent work".

Fischer won 52.39 per cent of the vote to beat the ÖVP’s candidate Benita Ferrero-Waldner in presidential elections in April 2004. If Fischer wins the election set to take place in April 2010, 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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