Fischer to run for a second term in office

By Thomas Hochwarter

President ends long speculations.
Parties undecided about nominating own candidates.

Vienna. Federal President Heinz Fischer announced he will run for a second term in office.

Months of speculation on whether the former 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.

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

No surprise

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 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.”

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 ‘in no rush’

Eva Glawischnig, leader of the Greens, said the party had not decided yet whether it would nominate its own candidate. "We are not in a rush,” she said. Former Greens boss Alexander Van der Bellen recently said he could not imagine running for the presidency.

BZÖ head Josef Bucher called for competitors to unite on the question and nominate a candidate to run against Fischer. Bucher said 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 the FPÖ.

Fischer ‘reliable’

SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann said he was happy about Heinz Fischer’s decision. Faymann called the president a "reliable re- ference person”. Faymann added: "His opinion has always been of great importance to me."

Fischer 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.

Printausgabe vom 23.11.2009