Hans Peter Doskozil will lead the SPÖ into the future. For this, the mayor of Burgenland needs a team at the top of the party and a successor in the old workplace. An overview of who is now eligible.
After victory comes work. Somewhat surprisingly, the new SPÖ leader Hans Peter Doskozil did not immediately present his team in front of party headquarters. A party executive, who could have filled the federal leadership immediately after the event in Linz, was in the room, but was rejected. So it will have to wait until Tuesday to see who will succeed Christian Deutsch, who resigned his job on Saturday.
Lercher and Herr are favourites
A logical candidate would be Max Lercher. The organizational talent had coordinated Doskozil’s campaign for party leader and also served as federal manager under Christian Kern. Of course, the new party leader also needs a confidant in the club, and that must be someone who is respected by the MPs. Because the club presidency is secretly elected. However, there is still some time until the next plenary week in the middle of the month.
Under normal circumstances, one of the two posts should go to Lercher. The second could be a concession to the supporters of the defeated mayor of Traiskirchen, Andreas Babler. A woman would be ideal. Julia Herr, who has been traded as a talent in the party since her time as SJ boss, would probably be the favorite of the new party leadership.
It would also affect the Viennese party, which is openly almost hostile to Doskozil. Few city party delegates at the party congress applauded after his speech. Although Herr hails from Burgenland, she has been a longtime member of the Viennese party – most notably in Penzing, where city councilor Jürgen Czernorszky, a supporter of Babler, runs the business.
After the party congress, Herr was quite open about playing a leading role – but only if the Doskozil camp also approaches Babler. The second woman who could be an alternative is woman boss Eva-Maria Holzleitner.
No place for babes?
Babler himself, on the other hand, does not seem to have a place at the top of the party at the moment – although his supporters demand it. The mayor of Traiskirchen could – if he wanted to – be given a greater role in the upcoming election campaign for the national council with a view to the next federal government.
Others have made a name for themselves as Doskozil’s supporters in his campaign for the presidency and, if not for posts, can hope to gain more weight. First and foremost is deputy club president and health spokesman Philip Kucher, who could also be considered for the group presidency. Sports spokesman Maximilian Köllner is seen from his own state party as hope for the future.
How is Burgenland located?
The new party leader still has some time to arrange the future in his own state. Doskozil has announced that he wants to remain governor until the intense election campaign. He was last represented during his larynx surgery by provincial councilor Leonhard Schneemann, although Astrid Eisenkopf is formally deputy provincial governor. Whether that was a hint remains to be seen. Regional councilor Heinrich Dorner and club president Robert Hergovich are more of an outsider.
It will also be decided next year who will lead the SPÖ in the EU elections. Andreas Schieder would be interested again, but it is uncertain if he is Doskozil’s first choice. It is unlikely that former chancellor Christian Kern could become a factor again, but nothing can be ruled out in the SPÖ in recent years.
More power for members?
Finally, content must also be worked on. Doskozil has announced that it intends to review the statute. Membership decisions must be recorded for party leadership and coalition agreements. In addition, the electoral lists still need to be anchored. A party congress may take place as early as 2024.
Incidentally, Doskozil will appear at the new headquarters as early as Monday if possible. He wants to present himself in the Löwelstrasse. The party’s departure from this historic site was initiated by its predecessors. Doskozil rejected this, at least in the run-up to the presidential election. Now he can form his own impression of whether the legendary head office still meets modern working conditions.
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.
