Meeting Amid the SPÖ Crisis

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”—Andreas Babler and Gerhard Zeiler. There was a brief handshake.(Bild: Krone-Collage/APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER, Alexander Tuma)

A gathering of red celebrities in the midst of the SPÖ crisis: The premiere of the new Kreisky film “Bruno” drew both party leader Andreas Babler and his challenger Gerhard Zeiler to the theater on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, the plan by the state governors from the Social Democratic Party is taking shape, but support for Zeiler is slow 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. The gathering of politicians and celebrities was correspondingly large 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 spicy gathering of potential rivals for the SPÖ party leadership: Andreas Babler—with Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer in tow—met challenger Gerhard Zeiler, who, incidentally, had co-financed the film.

They declined to comment on the current party situation, though the two did briefly shake hands.

Kern stayed away from the premiere—he wanted to oust Babler in February
Upon his arrival, Zeiler had even signed autographs and said that the meeting with Babler would be “wonderful.” But: “We’re here today to watch the film.” And Babler also said: “I’m looking forward to the Kreisky film.” Contrary to the organizers’ announcement, former Chancellor Christian Kern did not show up. He had wanted to oust Babler in February.

Sporrer: “The personnel debate was thrust upon us”
Also present from the world of high-level politics were the current and former ministers of justice, Anna Sporrer and Alma Zadic. When asked about the current crisis in the party, Sporrer said that the SPÖ had “not chosen the personnel debate—it was thrust upon us.”

Click through: Photos from the evening

Aside from that, filmmaker Sicheritz was naturally joined by his cast, including lead actor and Nestroy Award winner Nils Arztmann, Maya Unger, Proschat Madani, Juergen Maurer, Simon Morzé, Adele Neuhauser, and Thomas Stipsits. Kresky’s story also fascinated etiquette expert Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer and actor Aaron Karl.

Already Six States for SPÖ Crisis Summit
Things are moving forward on the party leadership front: The first state party leaders are cautiously coming out of the woodwork. FollowingGerhard Zeiler’s challenge in the “Krone,” Carinthia’s Governor Daniel Fellner, as reported, wants to bring the state party 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 is not scheduled until November 6. The SPÖ faces 38 days of infighting. The “working meeting” is intended to prevent that.

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.”

It’s a crisis. Given these poll numbers, even Andreas Babler himself would have called for Andreas Babler’s resignation in the past.

Christian Deutsch, Ex-Bundesgeschäftsführer der SPÖ

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

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

Here are the details 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 defensive.

• One is wavering: Tyrol is expressing itself rather cryptically.

On the question of “Babler or Zeiler” itself, however, the party leaders continue to play a game of Mikado—whoever makes the first move loses.