13 Facts About Elke Kahr

Elke Kahr was previously a city councillor in the municipal government since 2005.

Elke Kahr was adopted at three years of age and grew up in a working-class district.

Elke Kahr was elected to the city council in 1993, and since 1998 she has chaired the KPO council group.

Elke Kahr was campaign manager for the party in the 2005 Styrian state election, which saw the KPO become the third-largest party and win seats in the Landtag for the first time in 35 years.

Elke Kahr succeeded him as the face of the Graz KPO, and replaced him as councillor for housing, a position she held until 2017.

Elke Kahr was confirmed by the Landtag with 38 of 46 votes.

Elke Kahr led the KPO for a third time in the 2021 Graz local election.

Elke Kahr has been active in numerous community and social initiatives since entering politics, and has helped cultivate the Graz KPO's emphasis on housing policy.

Elke Kahr has become popular due to her work as housing councillor, especially with the "tenant helpline" which provides financial and legal assistance to renters.

Between 2004 and 2016, while Elke Kahr was in office as councillor for housing, 960 new community housing units were built and property was acquired for 550 more.

Elke Kahr donates two-thirds of her monthly salary to charity, totalling around 900,000 euros by 2014.

Elke Kahr is a member of the Communist Party and describes herself as a Marxist, but rejects accusations of sympathy for the Soviet Union or similar states.

Nonetheless, Elke Kahr emphasises that her focus is on working in the community, and that personal ideology "has no direct use for the people".