To Babler and Katzian

Ludwig’s call to order: “No strong language”

Ludwig (right) to Babler: "You should always be careful ..."

(Bild: APA/FLORIAN WIESER)

Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig wants a "new political culture" - and issues a call to order to his prominent SPÖ party friends Andreas Babler and Wolfgang Katzian. "Strong language" is "generally not conducive", Ludwig said at the weekend.

Party leader Babler had recently described the "Austria Plan" and the associated speech by Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) as a "hoax". ÖGB boss Katzian has already made a number of strong statements. Election campaigns are "pointed", Ludwig now says in an interview with "profil", "but you should always be careful not to burn bridges that you will need after the election".

A question of credibility
We should not "lose ourselves in party political haggling", the Vienna mayor appeals. A "certain basis of trust between the democratic parties" will be necessary when it comes to coalitions. "It is therefore important not to burn all bridges before the election, but also to think about where there can be compromise options." It is also about credibility: "Nobody should rule out coalitions and then enter into them after the election."

Asked whether it was a mistake for Babler to rule out a coalition with the ÖVP if the latter was against wealth taxes, Ludwig emphasized: "The SPÖ only rules out a coalition with the FPÖ."

Chance of first place "upheld"
Although the Freedom Party has been clearly leading the polls for months, Ludwig was convinced that the SPÖ's chances of coming first in the national elections were "still good". "However, we have to work together to achieve this. There was room for improvement last year." He will certainly make his contribution to unity, Ludwig assured - "because the opponents of the SPÖ are not in their own party".