Weissler ahead of ORF's summer meeting: Looser in the opposition

Leonore Gewessler, leader of the Greens party in Austria, has appeared relaxed in her new role as opposition member during a recent interview with the ORF, the country’s public broadcaster. The conversation marks her second such appearance since taking over the leadership of the Greens following the resignation of former head Werner Kogler in June 2025. The episode highlights how she has adapted to her position, balancing political seriousness with a lighter tone that resonates with both media and the public. The interview followed a brief yet notable incident involving a satirical cartoon published by Kurier’s caricaturist Michael Pammesberger. In his summer series “Politikerinnen im Urlaub,” Pammesberger depicted Greens leader Leonore Gewessler lounging on a couch, eating chips while watching the MotoGP race, though with the caveat that they were not organic. In response, Gewessler shared a video on her social media platforms showing her colleagues, including former party chief Kogler, ex-club president Maurer, and former minister Zadić, reacting to the image. They initially expressed outrage, calling the portrayal “unbelievable.” However, upon visiting her office, they found her engaged in the very activity depicted, consuming non-organic chips while watching the race. This moment underscored the delicate balance Gewessler must maintain between maintaining a serious political image and engaging with the public in a more accessible manner. It also reflected her growing comfort in the role of opposition leader, having taken over from Kogler in June 2025 after a period marked by internal shifts within the party. Gewessler, a 48-year-old native of Styria, rose quickly through the ranks of Austrian politics. She secured a direct move from second place on the national list to ministerial office in 2019. After the regular end of the government and a significant drop in electoral support during the 2024 election, Kogler handed over party leadership to the former environmental activist from Global 2000. Despite initial challenges, including adapting from focused climate policy to broader issues affecting citizens, Gewessler has managed to unify the party around her vision. She emphasizes the need to reconnect with the public and distance the Greens from their previous reputation as a “banter party.” In addition to traditional political outreach, Gewessler has embraced digital engagement, employing a small team dedicated to creating content for social media. While she reaches fewer people than the far-right Freedom Party, which uses social media effectively to connect directly with voters, her online presence continues to grow. This strategy reflects a broader trend in Austrian politics, where social media serves as a double-edged sword, offering visibility but requiring careful navigation between humor and professionalism. Currently, the ruling coalition of the People's Party (ÖVP), Socialists (SPÖ), and Neos lacks twelve parliamentary votes needed for a two-thirds majority. On several key legislative matters, particularly energy-related bills such as the Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act (EABG) and the Cheaper Electricity Act, it was often the Greens who provided the necessary support rather than the Freedom Party. Despite this, the Greens face a dilemma: while they gain influence, negotiations frequently result in last-minute compromises that do not fully align with their goals. Recent opinion polls indicate a positive shift for the Greens, with the APA electoral trend giving them 12.4 percent approval in mid-July, a significant increase from their 8.2 percent in the 2024 elections. However, the timing of these results coincides with an unusually hot summer, which some analysts suggest could affect voter turnout. For the Greens, this rise represents progress, though it still falls short of their peak performance in the 2019 general election.