Mourning for Arnold Grabner: Political pioneers go from us

Mourning for Arnold Grabner: Political pioneers go from us

Wiener Neustadt, Österreich - Arnold "Noldi" Grabner, a dazzling and influential player of Austrian politics, died on May 29, 2025 at the age of 85. Grabner, a long -time National Council and honorary citizen of the city of Wiener Neustadt, leaves a significant gap in the political landscape of Lower Austria and beyond. Just a few years ago, he celebrated his 75th birthday in the "Aviaticum" flight museum, where numerous well -wishers, including prominent politicians and athletes, were present to congratulate him and appreciate his achievements. 5min.at reports that Grabner was in his political career in the social democratic party of Austria (SPÖ), both at state and at the federal level.

Grabner was a member of the National Council from 1981 to 2001 and previously held various political offices, including the municipal council, city council and mayor in his hometown Wiener Neustadt. His era was characterized by a strong commitment to social justice and the promotion of sport in Austria, which earned him respect and recognition across party borders. The SPÖ federal party chairman Andreas Babler praised Grabner as a great social democrat, while ÖVP Mayor Klaus Schneeberger also reminded of the positive traces that Grabner left in his city.

volunteering and commitment

Grabner was not only active as a politician, but also a passionate supporter of sport. SPÖ sports spokesman Maximilian Köllner emphasized that Grabner was a pioneer of Austrian sports policy. This assignment was also recognized by ÖVP representatives; Both ÖVP sports spokesman Christoph Zarits and Member of the National Council Peter Haubner emphasized how much Grabner influenced sports in Austria. His commitment to working people and social justice was particularly emphasized by Sven Hergovich, the state party chairman of the SPÖ Lower Austria.

The SPÖ, the oldest existing political party in Austria, has an eventful story that goes back to 1889. Grabner's political work fell at a time when the SPÖ went through different phases, from reigns to opposition rolls. Under the current leadership of Andreas Babler, the SPÖ has again played an important role in the National Council, where it has achieved 41 of 183 seats, which corresponds to 21.1 % of the votes. Wikipedia explains that the SPÖ traditionally for social issues committed and maintained close connections to unions.