"Those are just rumors"
After “Krone” Interview: SPÖ Completely Paralyzed
Gerhard Zeiler wants to replace Andreas Babler as head of the SPÖ, as he announced in a high-profile “Krone” interview. Social Democrats across the country are closely watching to see how his plans will play out. The day after the interview, however, party officials remained tight-lipped.
Kronen Zeitung als bevorzugte Google-Quelle hinzufügen On “Sports Day,” the current SPÖ leader tried to take the situation in stride. Speaking at Vienna’s Heldenplatz on Saturday, Andreas Babler referred laconically to “rumors” currently circulating and spoke in abstract terms about someone who “might be putting himself forward as a possible candidate.” He was referring to Gerhard Zeiler, whohad publicly stated in the*Krone* that he intends to replace Babler and lead the SPÖ out of its “historic low.” Babler did not mention the media executive by name.
Otherwise, too, it is strikingly quiet within the party. Outwardly, at least; internally, things are simmering. But even those who usually never mince words are now keeping quiet.
“Learned from the ‘Krone’”
The message from Salzburg, Lower Austria, and Tyrol is that they want to “conduct the debate internally, not publicly.” Silence is even coming from Carinthia, where Governor Daniel Fellner recently launched a sharp public attack against the federal government and had secretly met with Zeiler as recently as July. Many point out that they only found out about it from the “Krone.”
Read the full “Krone” interview with Gerhard Zeiler—in which he explains why he wouldn’t take a single cent for a political position and outlines his future scenarios for the Social Democratic Party—exclusively here on KronePLUS!
Zeiler Is a “Person to Be Taken Seriously”
The union and the party’s youth wing are also keeping a low profile; only the Vorarlberg state chairman, Mario Leiter, has explicitly thrown his support behind Babler. A clear “no” to Zeiler also came from Burgenland, though not out of loyalty to Babler. Flattering words, however, came from Styria, where Zeiler was described as a “figure to be taken seriously.” Now everyone is waiting to see what Michael Ludwig does and where he stands. Zeiler has met with the mayor of Vienna twice recently. On Saturday, Babler declined to answer the question of whether he would face his challenger at a party convention.
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