Graz is the capital of Styria and the second-largest city in Austria,after Vienna. As of 1 January 2024,Graz had a population of 339,810. In 2021,the population of the Graz larger urban zone (LUZ) stood at 665,390 based on principal-residence status. Graz is known as a college and university city,with four colleges and four universities. Combined,the city is home to more than 60,000 students. Its historic centre (Altstadt) is one of the best-preserved city centres in Central Europe.
Styria is an Austrian federal state in the south-eastern part of the country. With an area of 16,401 km2 (6,332 sq mi),Styria is Austria's second largest federal state,after Lower Austria. It is bordered to the south by Slovenia,and clockwise,from the southwest,by the Austrian federal states Carinthia,Salzburg,Upper Austria,Lower Austria,and Burgenland. The federal state's capital is Graz. In the European Union's vocabulary,Styria is a province.
The Greens –The Green Alternative is a green political party in Austria.
Jörg Leichtfried is an Austrian politician of the Social Democratic Party who has been serving as a member of the National Council since the 2017 elections. He previously served as Minister of Transport,Innovation and Technology in the government of Chancellor Christian Kern from 2016 until 2017.
Franz Voves is an Austrian politician of the SPÖand a former player in the Austrian ice hockey national team. From 25 October 2005 to 16 June 2015 he has been governor of Styria. He was vice-governor of Styria from 12 March 2002 till 24 October 2005. On 2 March 2002 he was elected as the chairman of the SPÖStyria (Steiermark).
Alfons Gorbach was an Austrian politician of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP). He served as Chancellor of Austria from 1961 to 1964.
The 2005 Styrian state election was held on 2 October 2005 to elect the members of the Landtag of Styria.
The 2010 Styrian state election was held on 26 September 2010 to elect the members of the Landtag of Styria.
Legislative elections were held in Austria on 29 September 2019 to elect the 27th National Council,the lower house of Austria's bicameral parliament. The snap election was called in the wake of the Ibiza affair in May,which caused the resignation of Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and the collapse of the governing coalition of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). The government subsequently lost a motion of no confidence in parliament,before ÖVP Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was replaced by non-partisan Brigitte Bierlein on an interim basis.
Mario Kunasek is an Austrian politician and noncommissioned officer,who was the Minister of Defense from December 2017 to May 2019.
Hermann Schützenhöfer was governor of the Austrian province Styria from 2015 until 2022 and chairman of the Styrian People's Party (STVP/ÖVP) from 2006 until 2022.
Juliane Bogner-Strauß,is an Austrian molecular biologist,biochemist,and politician in the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). Since October 2013 she is Associate Professor at the Institute of Biochemistry of Graz University of Technology. From 18 December 2017 she was Federal Minister for Families and Youth of the Republic of Austria,since 8 January 2018 she is Federal Minister for Women,Families and Youth in the Federal Chancellery. Since 9 July 2018,she is the Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism.
Beatrix Karl is an Austrian academic and politician. A former member of the National Council,she served as Minister for Science and Research (2010–2011) and as Minister of Justice (2011–2013) in the first Faymann government.
Waltraud Klasnic is an Austrian politician who was Landeshauptfrau (governor) of Styria from 1996 until 2005.
Thomas Waitz is an Austrian ecological farmer,forester,and politician for the Greens Party. He has served as a board member for the European Green Party (EGP) since March 2017 and has been a member of the European Parliament since November 2017,after Ulrike Lunacek's resignation. After the 2019 European Parliament election,he lost his mandate until Brexit took place on 31 January 2020 and he received a new mandate for Austria. He has been the co-chair of the European Green Party together with Evelyne Huytebroeck since 10 November 2019. On 5th June 2022 he was reelected to the EGP Co-Chair together with the french senator Mélanie Vogel
Andreas Schnider is an Austrian theologian,academic teacher,author,publisher,consultant and politician of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). He was the leader of the party's regional section Steirische Volkspartei in Styria from 2001 to 2010,and a member of the Bundesrat from 2002 to 2010.
The 2021 Graz local election was held on 26 September 2021 to elect the members of the Gemeinderat of Graz.
Martin F. Polaschek is an Austrian legal scholar and legal historian who has served as Federal Minister for Education,Science and Research in the Nehammer government since 6 December 2021. An Independent,he was nominated by the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).
Claudia Plakolm is an Austrian politician of the People's Party (ÖVP) and State Secretary in the federal government of Nehammer. She was sworn in as a member of the National Council on 9 November 2017. Since 15 May 2021 she has been the federal chairman of the Young People's Party (JVP).
Gerald Grosz is an Austrian author,commentator,and politician. Formerly a member of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ),he joined the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) in 2005 and was elected to the National Council in the 2008 Austrian legislative election. He left office in 2013. The same year,he was elected federal chairman of the BZÖ,serving until 2015. Grosz was an independent candidate for President of Austria in the 2022 election.
