SPÖ chairman Andreas Babler resigns – succession partially clarified

Austria's Social Democrats of the SPÖ have done it again: They have removed their chairman. After almost two weeks of personnel discussions, Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler announced his gradual withdrawal late on Sunday evening.

"Personnel debates that are conducted in public are not a good side effect for parties. Arguments on an open stage are not a good side effect for parties," said Babler. Content and important government work would take a back seat. "And I am convinced that this must end."

Successor as Vice Chancellor already decided

Babler wants to remain vice chancellor and party leader until the end of the year. Part of his successor has already been clarified: SPÖ Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer is to become Vice Chancellor. He enjoys a high level of trust among the population. However, because he is currently undergoing cancer treatment, the handover will have to wait.

At the party leadership the matter is less clear. Initially, two executive party leaders should take over the leadership. They should then organize the election of a new party leadership. But Babler wants to keep one position - that of Minister for Housing, Culture, Media and Sport.

Babler announced that there should be an “orderly process” - that would guarantee that government work could continue continuously and consistently.

Stability at risk?

But it is precisely this stability that some now see as being in danger. The SPÖ governs with the conservative ÖVP and the liberal Neos. The ÖVP state governor from Vorarlberg, Markus Wallner, said on ORF: "The government's ability to act is absolutely being put to the test. I'm putting a lot of faith in the Federal Chancellor, who will ensure a certain degree of stability."

Chancellor Christian Stocker initially only made a brief statement in a written statement. Internal party discussions should not affect government work, said Stocker.

Head of the SPÖ as an ejection seat

The SPÖ is now known for precisely such discussions. For a good ten years, the top position in the party has been considered an ejection seat. A number of politicians who would be considered for Babler's successor have already declined. According to current surveys, in a new election the party would get just over 15 percent of the vote.

The ÖVP also doesn't want a new election, said Wallner: "You can never completely rule it out with events like this, a bit of a look into the crystal ball, so to speak, I hope not."

Because then, according to current surveys, the right-wing FPÖ would win hands down. Unsurprisingly, it is now the right-wingers who are loudest in calling for a new election.