For the first time
Kircher was previously Vice President of Yepp and has been a member of the European Parliament since July 2024. The election is scheduled to take place in July 2025.
The turquoise EU MP Sophia Kircher runs as President of the Youth of the European People’s Party (Yepp). She and European Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) announced this on Friday. It is the first time that an Austrian runs for the office. Kircher was previously Vice President of Yepp and has been a member of the European Parliament since July 2024. The election is scheduled to take place in July 2025.
Yepp is the youth organization of the European People’s Party (EPP) and has around 1.4 million members from more than 60 member organizations. She sees herself as a representative of a Christian-democratic orientation, is committed to a united Europe, the social market economy and the democratic constitutional state. At the same time, she rejects Türkiye’s full EU membership and wants to strengthen awareness of climate protection and demographic challenges.
Kircher explains in a written statement that the Yepp should serve as a platform for the exchange between young political actors. The aim is to put European basic values such as security, cross -border cooperation and a performance -oriented economic system. In view of nationalist and right -wing populist tendencies, she emphasized the need for a political reaction to European level.
Plakolm describes the candidacy as an « important step for strong Austria in a better Europe ». Kircher has political experience at both national and European level, including as a long -time official of the young People’s Party. (Red.)
