Missing in Lower Austria and Vienna

SPÖ leader Babler will probably not be on any provincial list

The mayor of Traiskirchen, Andreas Babler, is not on the provincial list in Lower Austria either.(Bild: APA/Erwin Scheriau)

It has been certain since Monday: SPÖ leader Andreas Babler will probably head the red federal list for the upcoming National Council elections, but will not be on the state list in either Vienna or Lower Austria. Unlike, for example, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, who already headed Lower Austria's state list in 2019.

Werner Faymann, Christian Kern and Pamela Rendi-Wagner led the SPÖ into the last National Council elections - and did so from the federal capital. All three predecessors of the current head of the SPÖ, Andreas Babler, topped not only the federal list but also the Vienna state list. An honor that Babler is now unlikely to receive.

Vienna SPÖ nominated Bures
As reported, the Vienna SPÖ will be led into the National Council elections by Doris Bures, the Second President of the National Council. This was announced by Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) at a press conference on Monday.

"Strong result as a goal"
However, there was apparently also no place on the list in Babler's home province of Lower Austria. "The SPÖ Lower Austria designated its state list on November 6 in the state party executive committee. We are pleased that we have a strong top candidate and first on the federal list in Andreas Babler and a strong top candidate and first on the provincial list in Rudi Silvan. Our common goal is a strong result for the SPÖ," said the provincial party when asked by the "Krone".

In fact, however, Babler's absence from the list could also have a positive impact on the party. The SPÖ Lower Austria currently has seven seats in the National Council. If Babler were to head the provincial list, he would possibly cost another MP their mandate if the number of mandates remained the same.

The possibility of the mayor of Traiskirchen leading the list of another federal state currently seems out of the question.