What parties in low polls usually have little use for is a new leadership debate. This is exactly what has happened to Austria's Social Democrats in the last few days. The internationally successful media manager and social democratic veteran star Gerhard Zeiler spoke out about the tabloid “Kronen Zeitung” and announced: “I believe that I am the right person to lead the party out of this historic low.”
Criticism of incumbent party leader Andreas Babler is nothing new. The Vice Chancellor and avowed Marxist is too left-wing for many people. In the media he seems awkward. Few trust him to have an impact beyond his own camp. In the winter, his opponents tried to position the former short-term chancellor and ÖBB manager Christian Kern against Babler.
However, Kern backed out at the last moment, possibly because he realized that there was little to be gained from the SPÖ at the moment. In the coalition with the ÖVP and the liberal Neos, the Social Democrats are trapped in budget constraints. Given the poll numbers around 15 percent, quick new elections would be tantamount to a suicide mission. If you wanted a change in leadership, some comrades agreed at the time, it would be better to do so shortly before the next elections so that the momentum would not evaporate.
Now Zeiler has thrown his hat into the ring: He is not a blank slate in the SPÖ. The self-made man, who grew up in Vienna's working-class district of Ottakring, once worked for the Social Democratic Chancellors Fred Sinowatz and Franz Vranitzky before moving to ORF as general secretary. In the 1990s he helped set up the Munich private broadcaster Tele 5, later went to RTL and traveled the world for Bertelsmann. Most recently he was responsible for a TV division at Warner Brothers. Ten years ago he was already considered a possible new SPÖ leader; At that time, Christian Kern won the race. The 71-year-old Zeiler spends his life between New York, London and Salzburg.
“I’m not a Marxist,” he said in an ORF interview. “And I’m not a class warrior either.” In doing so, he drew a visible line to the current SPÖ leader. In contrast to this, Zeiler describes himself as a “classic social democrat” who was socialized in the era of the SPÖ legends Bruno Kreisky and Anton Benya. And Benya said that you shouldn't slaughter a cow that produces milk. Sometimes you have to feed them too.
With his person, the SPÖ now has a clear choice, said Zeiler and explained the leadership debate as a directional decision: either the current boss Babler with a course that has led the SPÖ to 15 to 16 percent. “Or a business-friendly course from a classic social democrat – and that’s me.”
It remains to be seen whether anything will come of the revolt. The coalition partner ÖVP is keeping a low profile. Chancellor Christian Stocker had found a good working level with the current SPÖ chairman, who was pragmatic and approachable in government work. And Stocker had actually declared an “autumn of decisions” for the government, in which they wanted to deliver for the citizens. A leadership dispute with the coalition partner is anything but convenient. On the other hand, with a business-friendly SPÖ boss, more ÖVP policies might be able to be implemented.
But a lot is also open within the SPÖ. At 71, Zeiler is not exactly young for a hopeful. He now describes himself as a “transitional candidate”. The fact that he announced his candidacy in, of all places, the “Kronen Zeitung” also raised eyebrows. She has been waging a violent campaign against Babler for months. Babler's supporters are not the only ones who suspect that this is also due to his plans to reorganize the lavish media funding, which could mean significant losses for the tabloid. Apparently, it is said, Zeiler's schedule was mixed up because too many people in Vienna already knew about his plans.
But even if the SPÖ wanted him, which is still an open question, the question arises as to what path is possible. Babler was only re-elected at a party conference in the spring. The question of how a vote could be brought about is currently causing controversy: whether through a membership decision or a special party conference.
The SPÖ state leaders have therefore scheduled a meeting with Babler for Sunday to clarify the procedure. Some of them have long since made their frustration with Babler a secret. The powerful Viennese SPÖ leader Michael Ludwig has so far kept a low profile. Zeiler himself has meanwhile said goodbye to New York. And the Viennese city magazine “Falter” headlined the supposed hope: “Will he save the SPÖ? Or will he destroy it for good?”
