The SPÖ is in a strategic crisis. Rainer Nowak, head of the politics and economics department of the Kronen Zeitung, sees the party facing a difficult dilemma – especially regarding the political division between Vienna and the rest of Austria. How can the SPÖ regain its former core electorate?
“I think that’s the million-dollar question,” Nowak says. “Then they should probably choose me as Social Democratic party leader and not Mr Fussi or Mr Babler.” The central challenge is the positioning of the SPÖ: “Will the SPÖ be a middle-class party, because it is actually their party.” old customer base, which is also supported by them. Social Democrats become a bit richer? Or will it continue to see itself as the party of the very poorest?”
Nowak sees the party in a dilemma that is difficult to solve: “There was Michael Häupl’s statement, who said that we should actually take care of the migrants because they are the new poor. But that would hardly be compatible with the other social democratic electorate.”
He argues for a look at Denmark, where social democracy has successfully oriented itself towards the center: “The elections will be decided in the middle. The Social Democrats must certainly move further to the right, as Andreas Babler’s predecessors did.”
Why does Vienna work differently?
While the SPÖ fights for its existence in the rest of Austria, Vienna remains its stronghold. According to Nowak, this is due to the special rules of the big city: “Vienna is not Austria, you just have to say that very clearly. This is a big city with its own rules and its own voters, who always guarantee a left-wing majority here. Vienna is left-wing, the rest of Austria is not.”
Mayor Michael Ludwig’s success is based on his ability to unite the different wings of the Vienna SPÖ: “There is not one Vienna SPÖ, there are three or four Vienna SPÖs. And ideally, and that has happened so far, these wings work together.”
But that has its price: “Sometimes this means that the mayor of Vienna may not make as many decisions as he should, but rather seems hesitant and a bit hesitant. But that has to do with the fact that it has to cover this enormous spectrum.”
Why does Kickl work?
Herbert Kickl scores particularly well with the public because he is seen as competent on important issues such as migration and asylum. “You then rely on Herbert Kickl. “You’d rather trust him to do that,” Nowak says. Here he sees parallels with ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who “apparently was very authentic towards the population in this matter and was probably elected for that reason.”
What is especially surprising for Nowak is the new bond between Kickl and Kurz: “Maybe that is a reason why the two have been close lately, which I find very surprising.”
The challenges for the ÖVP
While Kickl is gaining fame, the ÖVP is struggling with its position on migration policy. “To some extent the ÖVP has tried to adopt a yes, but approach,” Nowak analyzes. But this strategy is difficult to implement, especially for Chancellor Karl Nehammer: “I think Karl Nehammer is clearly having a little more difficulty with this issue.”
Watch the entire interview in the video above!
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.
