What Babler Remains

For SPÖ leader Andreas Babler, it must be painful to see what a declared leftist can achieve: Zohran Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, swept the mayoral election in the US metropolis of New York this week. In the election campaign, he not only promised a rent freeze but also announced plans to establish municipal food markets and enable free use of public transport. 

Such measures would suit Babler. However, he can only dream of a comparable electoral success. Firstly, because he would have to achieve it not only in a big city but in a country like Austria, where leftists have little support in many areas. Secondly, because he already had a chance and could not take advantage of it: With him as the top candidate, the SPÖ suffered a defeat in the national election a year ago.

He will hardly get another chance: He is out of favor with the powerful tabloid press. Citing unnamed officials, the "Krone" has issued the slogan "BMW": "Babler Must Go". 

This cannot be irrelevant to the SPÖ chairman: There is no movement within the party that strengthens him; and the one that exists outside the party is weak. The most relevant figure would be Austria's most powerful social democrat, the mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig. He once helped him become chairman. But not because he was convinced of him, but because he wanted to prevent the Burgenland governor Hans Peter Doskozil from becoming one. Today, Ludwig does not stand behind Babler, but he does not completely abandon him either. 

This is not a sustainable situation. One might wonder what Babler actually wants and why Ludwig does not take decisive action. One explanation for his restraint is that a new chairman would make little sense now. He would take over a party that is polling at just over 17 percent and would not be able to make a big impact: He would be tied to the tedious everyday government work and the working agreement with ÖVP and Neos. He might shine initially, but then burn out, as the saying goes.

If Ludwig does not want to give up on the SPÖ, he must take action in at most a year and a half. With regard to the election series starting with the Upper Austrian state election in autumn 2027, the party must be so well-positioned overall that it becomes electable for more people again. For this, it needs an attractive federal chairman. 

Babler must be clear about what this means: If he wants to spare himself a humiliation, he must preempt it. Not by simply resigning, but by handing over his position in about a year to someone who is his man and has potential: Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer. Hardly anyone in the party could object to this. On the contrary. Marterbauer is highly regarded within the SPÖ and beyond. 

Even the tabloid press is now enthusiastic after initial reservations, currently writing excitedly about his new company car, which saves him money – he is driven in a Skoda.

Johannes Huber runs the blog dieSubstanz.at – Analyses and Backgrounds on Politics

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.