The red power struggle has surprisingly positive side effects for the SPÖ in tight finances – 10,500 new members wash hundreds of thousands of euros into the treasury.
Tell me, what do you think of social democracy? The SPÖ can apparently make a difference based on the survey of all members about the party presidency. Because, as the national manager Christian Deutsch of the “Krone” confirms, more than 10,000 new comrades have signed up within four weeks.
The annual party contribution is a maximum of 78 euros
Instead of just under 138,000 members at the beginning of March, 148,000 are now allowed to vote for the former party leader Pamela Rendi Wagner or the two challengers, the governor of Burgenland, Hans Peter Doskosil, and the mayor of Traiskirchen, Andreas Babler. Unexpected side effect of the SPÖ power struggle over the deep red numbers: with up to 78 euros annual party money (it’s cheaper for pensioners, young people and students), hundreds of thousands of euros more will be flushed into the tight coffers this year.
Controversial party confidant Rendi-Wagner should at least have a better hand financially than his predecessor, who was known for his penchant for expensive watches. “By the end of this year, we will have reduced the mountain of debt from 13.5 million euros to 4.2 million euros,” said Deutsch. By 2025, the red wines want to have a black zero.
The scheduled hearings failed
The situation surrounding the member survey is difficult. Yesterday’s meeting of the SPÖ presidency again ended with major substantive differences.
There is now no hearing with the top candidate trio. The governor of Burgenland, Hans Peter Doskozil, sat on the other side. Doskozil argued to the “Krone” that he did not want a “public spectacle”. After all, it is not about an election campaign, but about an internal party survey of members. Doskozil fears that objectivity could fade into the background at the hearing and old scores could be settled on the open stage.
Babler failed with his desire for an equity settlement. She would have wanted this four or five years ago, Rendi-Wagner said somewhat cryptically. Doskozil would have had no problem with a corresponding pact, as he said, but everyone is an adult and knows how to behave honestly. The party congress will take place in Linz at the beginning of June.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
