A Spicy Encounter

Babler and Zeiler Together at the “Kreisky” Premiere

The current and the perhaps future SPÖ leader on Tuesday evening at the premiere of the film “Kreisky”(Bild: Krone-Collage/Jennifer Kapellari, Alexander Tuma)

A gathering of left-wing celebrities in the midst of the SPÖ crisis: The premiere of the Kreisky film “Bruno” drew both party leader Andreas Babler and his challenger Gerhard Zeiler to the theater on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, the plan devised by the left-wing state leaders is taking shape. Support for Zeiler, however, is struggling to gain momentum.

As the longest-serving head of government in the Second Republic, Bruno Kreisky was undoubtedly one of Austria’s most influential political figures. This was also evident at the premiere of “Bruno—The Young Kreisky” at Vienna’s Gartenbaukino. Consequently, the event was packed with politicians and celebrities when cult director Harald Sicheritz presented his latest film to the public on Tuesday evening.

And there was a premiere within the premiere: The movie night led to a juicy encounter between potential rivals for the SPÖ party leadership. Andreas Babler—with Minister Marterbauer in tow—met challenger Gerhard Zeiler, who, incidentally, had co-financed the film.

Zeiler even signed autographs and said the meeting with Babler would be “wonderful.” But: “We’re here today to watch the movie.”

SPÖ leader Andreas Babler arrived with Minister Markus Marterbauer.(Bild: Jennifer Kapellari)

Already six states for SPÖ crisis summit
And developments continue regarding the party leadership as well: The first state party leaders are cautiously emerging from the shadows. Following Gerhard Zeiler’s challenge in the “Krone,” Carinthia’s Governor Daniel Fellner, as reported, wants to bring the state SPÖ leaders together around one table. The meeting, billed as a “working session,” is scheduled to take place in October. The next regular meeting of the federal party executive committee isn’t scheduled until November 6. The SPÖ faces 38 days of infighting.

The “working meeting” is intended to prevent this. Carinthia would like the meeting to be held in Vienna or at a centrally located venue in Austria. And even though there are still no public declarations of support for Zeiler—or for Babler, for that matter—it’s already becoming clear who will attend the meeting.

Styrian SPÖ leader Max Lercher wants to “advocate for a meeting of the state party chairs,” and Mario Leiter from Vorarlberg will likely support the Carinthian initiative as well. Salzburg’s SPÖ leader, Peter Eder, would “naturally” attend the meeting. And the SPÖ in Lower Austria—Babler’s home state—also considers a meeting of state leaders a “very good idea.”

Given these poll results, even Andreas Babler himself would have called on Andreas Babler to resign in the past.

Christian Deutsch, Ex-Bundesgeschäftsführer der SPÖ

“The roof is on fire,” says the former executive director
A source from the powerful Vienna state party states: “A constructive and trusting exchange among state leaders is a positive thing.” Christian Deutsch, former federal executive director and a close associate of Ludwig, says: “The house is on fire. Given these poll numbers, even Andreas Babler would have called on Andreas Babler to resign in the past. That’s why an orderly transition is important—because it makes no sense otherwise and would only severely damage the party.” Deutsch is considered part of Doris Bures’s camp, which has a strained relationship with Babler.

In Upper Austria, state chairman Martin Winkler opposes “a decision on leadership under time pressure.” Tyrol’s chairman Philip Wohlgemuth is cautious in his comments: “If someone wants to run for the federal party chairmanship, then they should do so.” He calls for “swift clarity within the federal SPÖ” on how to proceed from here. Burgenland remains silent.

In detail, this means for the crisis meeting:

• Six are in favor of the meeting: Vienna, Styria, Carinthia, Salzburg, Lower Austria, and Vorarlberg
• Two are against it: Burgenland is uninterested, and Upper Austria is on the defensive.

• One is wavering: Tyrol is being rather cryptic.

But when it comes to the question of “Babler or Zeiler” itself, the party bigwigs continue to play a game of Mikado—whoever moves first loses.