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🇦🇹 Austria /Elections & Politics

Austria’s SPÖ lays groundwork to replace leader Andreas Babler

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Senior figures in Austria’s Social Democratic Party are increasingly distancing themselves from leader Andreas Babler ahead of a party conference in Mauerbach.
  • Former ORF director-general Gerhard Zeiler has emerged as a possible replacement, although his circle says he has not been formally asked to seek the leadership.
  • Regional leaders and union officials have criticized the party’s polling performance, while Babler faces growing pressure over rumors of a leadership change.

Andreas Babler is facing increasingly open efforts to remove him as leader of Austria’s Social Democratic Party. What once looked like rumors that he might simply wait out now appears harder to contain ahead of the SPÖ’s party meeting in Mauerbach this weekend.

For two weeks, opposition to Babler has spread beyond traditionally critical state organizations in Lower Austria, Burgenland and Carinthia. Parts of the trade union movement and the Vienna SPÖ are also said to be moving away from him. Burgenland Governor Hans Peter Doskozil began the more public criticism by calling the party’s polling figures “miserable.” Carinthia Governor Daniel Fellner later warned that the SPÖ risked becoming a “small party.” Fellner faces a state election next year.

Miserable.

· Hans Peter DoskozilThe Burgenland governor used the word to describe the SPÖ’s polling figures.

Since around Aug. 23, several state organizations have been naming Gerhard Zeiler as a possible successor. Zeiler, a former ORF director-general and international media executive, has repeatedly surfaced in past discussions about the party’s next leader. Tabloid media have amplified the prospect and added allegations concerning preferential treatment for Babler’s father in a hospital, a story one Vienna party member described as a smear campaign.

Small party.

· Daniel FellnerThe Carinthian governor warned that the SPÖ risked becoming a small party.

Zeiler’s associates said he has not been directly asked whether he wants the job and is not considering it unless that happens. In important Vienna SPÖ offices, however, he is described as a potentially “technically excellent choice” with an impressive career. Supporters believe he could appeal to conservative, liberal and environmentally minded voters, though some doubt he could win support away from the far-right Freedom Party.

Reports say Zeiler has met influential SPÖ figures, including Fellner in July and union leader Wolfgang Katzian. Katzian once backed Christian Kern for the leadership against Zeiler, but his reservations are reportedly no longer an obstacle. Union offices are particularly worried that the Greens could soon overtake the SPÖ in opinion polls. Zeiler also has a difficult history with Doskozil, who has blamed him for Babler’s election as party leader.

Technically excellent choice.

· Vienna SPÖ figuresSome party offices used the phrase to describe Gerhard Zeiler as a possible successor.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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