Backtracking during the meeting

Shocking development: Showdown in the SPÖ called off

Königsberger-Ludwig might be drawn back to Lower Austria—but Hergovich wants to remain in office(Bild: Krone KREATIV/SPÖ-NÖ)

Between coup and farce: In a hastily convened meeting of the expanded state party executive committee of the SPÖ Lower Austria, the announced contested vote between State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig and State Party Leader Sven Hergovich at the SPÖ state party convention on May 30 was debated. The planned coup turned into a farce.

These were turbulent days in the SPÖ Lower Austria. About a week ago, the federal SPÖ intensified its efforts to field a challenger against the incumbent state party leader Sven Hergovich in the form of Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig—a former state councilor who is very popular in Lower Austria and now serves as state secretary—at the state party convention on May 30. However, the plan—forged and spearheaded by SPÖ leader Andreas Babler and party executive director Klaus Seltenheim—reportedly backfired at least a little as soon as it became public knowledge.

A mole did Babler and Co. a disservice
As Königsberger-Ludwig herself noted in a subsequent letter, several discussions should actually have taken place before the announcement. However, a red mole leaked the plan prematurely, thereby increasing the pressure—and setting off a small political avalanche. It gained momentum quickly: Babler threw his support behind Königsberger-Ludwig, but many prominent Red politicians from Lower Austria pledged their loyalty to Hergovich—and criticized the challengers’ approach.

On Monday, a rival candidacy would have to be officially approved by the party executive committee. “To discuss the situation openly, internally, and not through the media,” Hergovich invited members to an expanded party presidium meeting on Wednesday. At party headquarters, there was debate over whether Königsberger-Ludwig’s rival candidacy should proceed.

Coup turned into a farce
The result: All that remains of the planned coup is a farce. Königsberger-Ludwig withdrew her candidacy. “My intention was never to harm the SPÖ Lower Austria,” she emphasized after the meeting of the expanded state party executive committee. It was unanimously decided that Hergovich will stand for re-election as chairman at the end of May and run as the top candidate in the 2028 state election. “There is much more that unites us than divides us,” Hergovich emphasized for his part. The goal, he said, is for the different levels—the federal and state parties as well as district and local organizations—to “pull together.”

Babler wanted to get one over on his critics—but now finds himself the loser.(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Setback for Babler
Königsberger-Ludwig is running for deputy state party chair—a position she currently holds. “Andreas Babler, however, will once again have to ask himself why his influence as federal party leader doesn’t even extend from Vienna to St. Pölten,” said a senior party member.