The big interview

Will you now move to the center, Mr. Babler?

SPÖ Chairman Andreas Babler

(Bild: Martin Jöchl)

Trench warfare, crossfire and now an attempt at a leadership debate: In an interview with Conny Bischofberger, the SPÖ leader goes on the offensive. Andreas Babler (50) on the center-right-left, bruised egos, "scaremonger" Kickl and "carte blanche" Gusenbauer.

On Saturday morning, workers stroll across the site of the former Semperit factory in Traiskirchen. Andreas Babler grew up very close by, which is why he suggested the brick building in the heart of the industrial town as a meeting point for our interview - and combined it with his daily dog walk. "I climbed up the tower once during the pandemic, 84 meters high," he says, describing the resettlement of an industrial park with thousands of jobs as one of many "red success stories".

Wife Karin Blum (bottom left in the tweet) keeps the Mayar Vizla wirehaired lady "Ika" in check when Babler poses for the "Krone" photographer. "My two bosses," he laughs. For the interview, we move to the new party venue of the SPÖ Traiskirchen, which the mayor and SPÖ chairman has christened "La Rossa", "the red one". There, Karin starts the coffee machine. "Ika" is tired from walking and soon falls asleep under the red upholstered armchairs. There is a bust of Viktor Adler at the buffet.

"Krone": Mr. Babler, what goes through your mind during such a special week when you're walking your dog?
Andreas Babler: There are always a lot of things on my mind, but today, of course, the death of Alexei Navalny in particular. His death must be investigated by an international commission. Nobody trusts the Putin regime.