Josef Pröll is the new face of Austria’s conservative People’s party after its defeat in September’s general elections. Although hardly a debutant – Mr Pröll was farming, food and environment minister in the previous “grand coalition” – his elevation to leader after the electoral setback points to renewal in his party.
Dominated for years by Wolfgang Schüssel, a former chancellor and one of Austria’s most experienced politicians, the People’s party has been slow in reacting to changing social trends. Still linked closely to the countryside – and especially Austria’s powerful farm movement – as well as big business lobbies, the party had been haemorrhaging support among younger urban voters long before its more recent trouncing by the far right.
