Innsbruck mayor to retire from politics

Innsbruck Mayor Hilde Zach announced yesterday (Thurs) evening that she would retire from politics.Zach, 67, who was elected on the Liste für Innsbruck (List for Innsbruck) ticket, had cancer years ago and is reportedly in poor health. It is expected that Deputy Mayor Christine Oppitz-Plörer, also elected on the List for Innsbruck ticket, will succeed her.Zach, elected mayor the first time in 2002, was the first female mayor of a provincial capital. She received 26.8 per cent of the vote when she ran again in 2006 – 9.5 fewer percentage points than in 2002.The next mayoral election in Innsbruck will be in 2012.The Liste für Innsbruck is said to be close to the People’s Party (ÖVP).