ÖVP appoints Ernst Gödl as new parliamentary leader amid scandal fallout
The Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) has chosen Ernst Gödl as its new parliamentary group leader. His appointment follows August Wöginger’s resignation after a court conviction in the jobs-for-votes scandal. The decision was confirmed on Monday evening by the party’s federal executive. August Wöginger stepped down as group leader, with his resignation taking effect from Monday. His departure came after a first-instance conviction linked to the controversial scandal.
Ernst Gödl, born in Graz on December 28, 1971, brings decades of political experience to the role. In 1995, he made history as Austria’s youngest mayor, leading the municipality of Zwaring-Pöls. He later served in the Styrian regional parliament for ten years before moving to the Federal Council in 2014.
Gödl entered the National Council in 2017, where he currently acts as the ÖVP’s spokesperson on security matters. His nomination as group leader was finalised during Monday’s executive meeting. A formal vote in the parliamentary group is scheduled for Tuesday morning, followed by a public announcement. Gödl will take over leadership of the ÖVP’s parliamentary group after Tuesday’s vote. His election comes as the party seeks to move past recent legal troubles. The transition marks a new phase for the group in Austria’s National Council.
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