Babler’s Father, Stocker’s Grandson and Kickl’s Mountain Brother: The Coalition Stumbles Toward Autumn

Austria’s coalition is heading into autumn without a majority, after a series of failed attempts by its parties to sharpen their profiles. The political turbulence now reaches from allegations about Andreas Babler’s father to Christian Stocker’s newborn grandson, while FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl prepares another summit tour, this time to Küniglberg.

The most sensitive issue concerns Babler, the SPÖ leader and vice chancellor, who faces accusations that he moved his father ahead on a waiting list for hip surgery. Babler, his party and the hospital all deny the allegation. In an emotional video, Babler called it a crossing of a line and urged people to oppose such conduct together.

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clinic clowns in the service of plastic surgery

The article argues that Babler is right to reject the politicization of illness, but says he helped create the conditions for such attacks. As part of his campaign against a two-tier health system, Babler had portrayed private-hospital medical and nursing staff as “clinic clowns in the service of plastic surgery.” He also argued that the super-rich used taxpayer money for unnecessary cosmetic procedures while other people waited in vain for essential treatment. The commentary calls this a textbook example of toxic division, saying Babler demeaned both wealthy patients’ suffering and private-sector healthcare workers.

Stocker, meanwhile, tried to counter criticism of his earlier “children are not work” remark by speaking about the good future he wants for his new grandson. His proposal for investment products that are not fully secure, immediately available and virtually interest-free quickly became another political target. The article says broadcasters focused on the chancellor’s optimistic expectations for returns from a sovereign fund and a future account, even though it considers long-term investment in a balanced equity portfolio a sound approach. It argues that Austria lacks private pension provision and that using such investments for children or retirement would be sensible. In Austria, it concludes, anyone who does not honor the savings account is still treated like a speculator.

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the super-richest