“Principal Goal” of reform – Babler wants to pass direct elections for president

In principle, the new chairman believes that his party is on the right track. As proof, he cites not only 320 invitations to his summer tour, which will take him through all Austrian districts, but also a huge increase in members. 15,000 people have joined the SPÖ in recent weeks and about 1,000 have left. The largest group of newcomers are actually returnees, namely those “who have been gone for more than 25 years”.

Babeler locates complaint against election commission by “political opponent”
Babeler does not actually see any discrepancies in the SPÖ and if the content is discussed, he thinks that is good. The fact that the governor of Burgenland, Hans Peter Doskozil, has not returned to the federal bodies, is brushed aside by the party leader, since he has long ceased to be represented in it and has now sent a representative in Verena Dunst. Babler dismisses rumors that the complaint against the former head of the Election Commission over the counting error at the party congress came from within her own ranks: “It is clear to us that this comes from the political opponent.”

“Vienna SPÖ can be quite relaxed”
The party chairman does not want to be deterred by the skepticism of the Vienna state party towards direct-democratic elements: “The Vienna SPÖ can be quite relaxed,” says Babler, since it is only about federal affairs. The Constitution Committee (coordinated by the federal management) should come to a common concept at the party congress in the autumn. Babler notes with a wink that the penultimate party conference prior to the vote on the statutes at Vienna’s instigation had to be canceled due to a lack of delegates: “Maybe we should put it a little higher on the agenda.”

Direct election of the president is the “main goal” of the reform
In any case, the “main objective” of the reform was the direct election of the president, as this was the most important thing for the members. Babler left it open whether coalition agreements should also be submitted to grassroots before signing.

Immigration important for SPÖ leader due to labor shortage
In terms of content, the SPÖ leader has made the fight against inflation the main subject. For example, if debates about foreigners are to be used as a distraction, Babler dismisses this: “If you think about making the barbed wire two meters higher, then no child can ski with it.” In general, he pleads for calm on the migration issue. The fact that there is a shortage of labor in almost all sectors shows that immigration will be necessary. It is only important (with the involvement of the social partners) that there is no wage dumping.

The SPÖ leader does not currently see a refugee crisis: “Austria does not deal with the big stories and yet a huge political theater is being staged.” Humanism is the basis for him, and then you have to find a pragmatic approach. One should start with a legal distribution of asylum seekers.

Short-time work is only possible for Babler step by step
For Babler, it is “unrealistic” to immediately introduce a 32-hour working week, as the SPÖ was already drumming before he became chairman. The social partners should draw up a general collective agreement and also find sector-specific solutions. Last time, the switch took five to six years and was done step by step: “This time it will be similar.” It is clear to him that the implementation must begin: “The time is right.”

The same applies to a higher wealth tax, which he set as a coalition condition before he was elected party leader. Babler sticks to that. But formulating a coalition condition for a specific model is “difficult” before talks have begun. However, it is clear that every government will have to raise wealth-related taxes. After all, money is needed for counter-financing, for example to create basic child safety or for investments in the health sector. Babler does not commit to a specific model, but refers to the pre-existing millionaire and estate tax concepts.

SPÖ have “very strong access to neutrality”
The SPÖ has not yet taken a position on the Sky Shield issue, saying it is impossible given the lack of information on its design, as Babler emphasizes: “It’s very difficult if you don’t know what kind of construction it is. For him it’s clear that a NATO command structure is not possible for the SPÖ as “the last party with very strong access to neutrality.” Moreover, participation in Sky Shield must be compatible with neutrality.

Incidentally, it is still unclear where Babler will stay with the federal party in the future. Moving from Löwelstrasse to Laxenburger Strasse together with the Vienna SPÖ “makes sense”, but nothing has been resolved yet. One of them is in talks with the Viennese party.