Representatives remain in office: Marco Gratzer and Christopher Suppan expelled from the SPÖ - Voitsberg
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SPÖ Köflach Faces Party Expulsions and Political DeadlockMarco Gratzer and Christopher Suppan were expelled but remain active in Köflach council amid party leadership disputes.
Key FactsFeb 3, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: meinbezirk.at
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: meinbezirk.at
- The SPÖ state board expelled Deputy Mayor Marco Gratzer and council member Christopher Suppan from the party.
- Both retain their council positions because Gratzer's election was legally valid despite the expulsion.
- SPÖ Köflach's faction now holds only three seats, complicating majority support for the deputy mayor role.
- A member assembly is planned for March to set new directions and reorganize the local political team.
We affirm that we will continue to exercise our democratically elected offices in the municipality of Köflach. We are elected to work, not to quarrel.— Marco Gratzer and Christopher Suppan comment after their expulsion from the SPÖ.
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The crisis of the SPÖ Köflach: From 22 seats to one in 21 years - Voitsberg: Following the expulsion of Köflach's deputy mayor Marco Gratzer and municipal ...
meinbezirk.at/voitsberg/c-politik/von-22-mandaten-auf-eines-in-21-jahren_a8049340
Key FactsSPÖ Köflach Faces Steep Decline in Council Seats
2 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: meinbezirk.at
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: meinbezirk.at
- SPÖ Köflach’s representation in the municipal council has drastically declined from 22 seats in 2005 to a single seat in 2026.
- Internal rivalries culminated in the expulsion of key figures including Vice Mayor Marco Gratzer and councilor Christopher Suppan.
- The formation of the SBK voter list and cooperation with the ÖVP resulted in a two-thirds majority for the ÖVP in the council.
- A party restructuring is planned after the state party conference in February 2026 to address the ongoing political crisis.
The SPÖ in Köflach needs a reorganization. There will be more on this after the state party congress on February 21.— LAbg. Jochen Bocksruker, who represents the Voitsberg district as an SPÖ representative, discusses the need for a restructuring of the SPÖ in Köflach.
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