SPÖ on the Brink of a Revolution

Upheaval in the SPÖ: Zeiler Challenges Babler

The “newcomer” to the SPÖ: Gerhard Zeiler wants to become vice chancellor and/or SPÖ leader.(Bild: Eva Manhart)

Gerhard Zeiler (71) has now officially made his offer to the SPÖ in the “Krone”: “I believe I am the right person to lead the party out of this historic low.”

“Since my name has been circulating in the press again for several weeks now, I told myself, ‘You have to make a decision.’ You can’t expect others—or yourself—to put up with not taking a clear stance,” the internationally renowned media executive tells “Krone” interviewer Conny Bischofberger. “That’s why I asked myself the following questions: Am I capable of doing this? Do I have the strength to do it? Do I have the knowledge to do it? Do I have the experience to do it? Do I have the courage needed to make changes? My answer is: Yes. I’m available.”

Zeiler continues: “I believe I am the right person to lead the party out of this historic low.” But: “I have never in my life worked anywhere where I wasn’t wanted. And now the SPÖ must say: Is Gerhard Zeiler wanted, or is he not wanted?”

You can read the full interview by Conny Bischofberger coming soon on KronePLUS and in the print or e-paper edition of the Kronen Zeitung!

Tensions have been running high within the SPÖ for weeks due to poor poll numbers—although a debate over the party chairmanship is being denied publicly, party leader and Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler is also considered to be on his last legs internally. Babler himself has shown no signs of fatigue in office to date. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to Zeiler’s offer to take over. Zeiler’s contract as “President International” at Warner Bros. Discovery runs through 2028, in any case.