Bankruptcy Kika/Leiner – Babeler: “It is clear that it stinks”

As for a parliamentary committee of inquiry into Kika/Leiner, Babler was open, but no decision had been made – “we’re not there yet”. He is now mainly concerned with what will happen to the 1,900 employees who lose their jobs. It is also important that “complete” information is provided. Now it is up to the Finanzprokuratur to check. But it would also be important for the public prosecutor’s office to look at the ‘fine-tuning’ of the company, referring to the separate sale of real estate and business operations.

The public prosecutor must investigate whether there is corruption or bribery and secure the affected property, Babeler demanded in the ORF “press hour”. A U-committee is one of many options for clarification. “It’s crazy what happened there,” Babler said.

Climate protection plays an important role
Meanwhile, Babler has also reiterated its willingness to enter into parliamentary consultations on the Renewable Heat Act, which aims to phase out oil and gas heating. Under its predecessor, the SPÖ blocked two thirds of business for a while to put pressure on the government, but an end to the blockade was recently announced under the new club leadership. They had “made a reassessment” and concluded that it was an “important matter”, “we are going to talk”. It concerns social issues, such as how to ensure that landlords do not pass on the costs of the heating conversion to tenants.

In general, Babler has been more open about climate protection issues: “We have to somehow leave the shovels behind and put the excavators to climate protection.” Babler then also spoke out for 100 km / h on the autobahn. Regarding the controversial Viennese Lobau tunnel, a project of the Viennese Reds, the new chairman of the federal party was skeptical: one should fundamentally “not fight more traffic with new roads”, said Babler, “it is a vicious circle”. He has now made arrangements to exchange ideas about the Lobautunnel.

Babler expressly expressed his solidarity with the concerns of the climate protectionists blocking roads, even though it could be argued “whether these are always the best forms of protest”. Criticizing the “climate stickers” from within its own ranks, for example from the Tyrolean SPÖ boss Georg Dornauer, Babler replied that the fight against global warming was “top priority”. He criticized the fact that the government has not drafted a climate protection law for 900 days.

More participation through amendment of the articles of association
Babler left open what decisions the party members would really have a say in after the planned reform of the statutes. The point is to actually “turn the party into a grassroots democratic movement”. There is a basic consensus that the members will be able to vote on the party presidency in the future. “The aim is, of course, to be able to vote on the most important issues” – Babeler also mentioned coalition issues or the party program as examples in the discussion. However, he also pointed out that “concerns” need to be addressed and rapid decision-making bodies are also needed on day-to-day political issues. Babler does not believe that the Vienna SPÖ could – again – delay such reform of the statutes.

Babeler defended the fact that he himself had not respected the vote of the members in the most recent survey and then took on Hans Peter Doskosil at the party congress: The result of the member survey, which was rather close, brought “no clarity”.

Baber criticizes the EU
When it comes to asylum, he has a pragmatic approach, but his humanistic starting point is also “that we don’t just let someone drown,” Babler said again in response to the recent boat accident near Greece, in which more than 500 migrants are said to have died. The EU produces and exploits such images, he was again critical of the EU. The EU says that irregular migration must be stopped, but does not show concepts of regular migration. The planned satellite camps on the EU’s external borders are “not the image of Europe we want”, the SPÖ leader confirmed. There must be safe escape routes, such as the possibility to apply for asylum at the embassies.

Babler also repeated his criticism of the European Union in other respects: the EU can and should be “a great lever” on many issues, but changes are needed. The EU has “broken the promise of prosperity” and needs to be “tightened up”.

SPÖ should be number one
His goal is to make the SPÖ number one in the next National Council elections. Babler wouldn’t say a percentage with which he would be satisfied. Just getting stronger would be “too weak” for him.