Johannes Margreiter Resigns From NEOS Party

Former NEOS National Council member Johannes Margreiter has resigned, citing the exclusion of Styrian MP Veit Dengler from the party.

Johannes Margreiter, a 68-year-old lawyer from Hall and former National Council member from 2019 to 2024, announced his resignation from NEOS in an email to Federal Managing Director Claudia Jäger. As reported by the Tiroler Tageszeitung, Margreiter cited the exclusion of Styrian MP Veit Dengler, who was removed following conflicts over party funding and the recording of a confidential meeting, as the primary reason. Margreiter, who noted that Dengler and Matthias Strolz initiated the NEOS project, criticized the party for prioritizing media tactics over original goals. He further accused leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger of acting alone regarding compulsory COVID-19 vaccinations, stating the party has moved away from its founding principles.