Anton Lang, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) in Styria, faced a challenging election as the party recorded its worst performance in recent history.

Lang, who has been a prominent figure in Styrian politics, serving as the finance and transport minister, led the SPÖ into the elections with a focus on local issues.

Despite his efforts, the party secured only 21.4% of the vote, down from 23% in 2019, marking a continuation of its downward trend.

This result has cast doubt on Lang's future as party leader, with discussions of potential successors already underway.

The election outcome has also impacted potential coalition formations, with a partnership with the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) being the only viable option.

Lang acknowledged the disappointing results, attributing them partly to national political influences, but accepted responsibility as the lead candidate.