Zeiler on “ZiB 2”:

“If we don’t succeed, the extremists will win”

Gerhard Zeiler wants to take over the federal SPÖ from Andreas Babler(Bild: APA/Florian Wieser)

Two days after revealing his desire to become the leader of the federal SPÖ on KronePLUS, media executive Gerhard Zeiler (71) has now also spoken about his vision on ORF. He warned against “extremes,” made statements on climate protection and potential savings, and—albeit very cautiously—on possible wealth taxes.

Zeiler reaffirmed his ambitions for the SPÖ chairmanship and described the move as the result of a “long process.” The 71-year-old emphasized on Sunday evening in the “ZiB 2” studio that the party chairmanship would by no means fall to him automatically. But: “If we don’t manage to make social democracy strong, the extremists will win,” Zeiler warned.

“I am not a Marxist”
In terms of policy, he took a clear stance: He supports a business-friendly course, is “no Marxist,” and is also “no class warrior.” At the same time, he expressed confidence that there are many supporters for his candidacy within the SPÖ—they would “come around,” the SPÖ member said in response to a question from ORF journalist Margit Laufer (“Where are they, then?”). So far, only three former state governors had dared to step into the spotlight.

Continue Implementing the SPÖ Platform
The party executive committee must decide on the next steps. It now needs to be clarified whether a party convention will be convened. Zeiler would withdraw only if such a convention denied him its support. He did not question the SPÖ’s work in government. He stands by the coalition and the joint platform, although there are still some unresolved issues regarding its implementation—such as childcare. Zeiler rejected the idea of separating the roles of party leader and vice chancellor.

Will the Federal SPÖ Take Over from Andreas Babler: Gerhard Zeiler(Bild: APA/Florian Wieser)

“You’re just as impatient as I am, Ms. Laufer”
In the ORF interview, Zeiler came across as quite cantankerous, remarking, for example,“You’re just as impatient as I am, Ms. Laufer,”when she brought up the possibility of a wealth tax. “We are the party of labor; we must ease the burden on workers,” he clarified. “We support everyone who works, but we shouldn’t support those who don’t want to work. We can’t afford that, and it’s also a matter of fairness.”

’sThree Political PrioritiesThe successful media executive, former ORF director general, and multimillionaire nevertheless outlined three key priorities for the SPÖ:

• The cost of living must come down, social housing must be expanded, and significantly more must be invested in education and health care—especially in comprehensive schools.
• To finance these measures, he sees potential for savings primarily in government subsidies. The federal government alone awards subsidies totaling around 31 billion euros; “significant savings” could be made there.
• Regarding an inheritance and wealth tax, Zeiler pointed out that there is currently no political majority in favor of it. However, he does not want to put an end to the debate on the matter. “Overall, I’m open to discussing an inheritance tax, but only if we don’t increase the public spending ratio and, at the same time, every cent goes toward reducing the tax burden on labor.”

“Winning the Business Community Over to Climate Measures”
He rejected criticism from the business community regarding the planned climate law. While the resistance is understandable given the financial pressure, he said, the businesses’ fundamental approach is short-sighted. With sufficient support, the business community could also be won over to support appropriate climate measures.

Incidentally, he heaped praise on Finance Minister and fellow party member Markus Marterbauer, calling him “truly fantastic.”

“I’m the Right Person”
On Friday, Zeiler announced on krone.at his intention to replace SPÖ leader Andreas Babler: “I’m the right person to lead the party out of this historic low.”He spoke at length with Conny Bischofberger about his childhood in Vienna’s Ottakring district, scenarios for the Social Democrats, why he wouldn’t accept a single cent for a political position, his plans regarding migration, and what sets him apart from Herbert Kickl’s FPÖ in this regard.

An internal debate over the party leadership has been simmering within the SPÖ for some time—and not for the first time—though it is denied publicly. The main reason for this is poor poll numbers, which currently place the Social Democrats at around 15 percent.