"1st place in the fall"

SPÖ declares three-way fight and sets out to catch up

Andreas Babler wants to go from third place in the EU elections to first place in the National Council elections.

(Bild: APA/Max Slovencik)

At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Andreas Babler dispelled any doubts that not everyone in the SPÖ was pulling in the same direction. The party leader called for a three-way battle between the Social Democrats, the ÖVP and the FPÖ. At the end of this, the party should come first in the National Council elections. But the Reds are divided on how to catch up.

When the projections were presented at 11 pm on election Sunday, the comrades tried to stage a reasonably good mood for the TV cameras - even if it was difficult. One was missing. SPÖ leader Babler - he had already quietly left for Traiskirchen, phoning a number of provincial party leaders during the night to secure their support despite the meagre election result. 

Babler knew that eleven hours later he was facing a difficult party executive meeting. The governor of Burgenland, Hans Peter Doskozil, immediately put the rod in his window: "There's no way to sugarcoat this. There should be calm until the National Council elections, and then those responsible - there are several of them, not just one person - will have to justify themselves." Doskozil referred to party leader Babler's statement that the party had "stabilized" and noted: "With this in mind, I say: All the best for the National Council elections!"

Hans Peter Doskozil: "There's no sugar-coating it."

(Bild: HANS KLAUS TECHT)

Doskozil unofficially opens an Obmann debate
This unofficially opens the red umpire debate. The federal party chairman still has until September 29 to turn the tide. After that, it will be settled. While Doskozil sent his message to Vienna, Babler felt a strong headwind at the board meeting.

The federal states demanded a course correction - especially on the issue of migration. The red party leader himself, who is now under heavy pressure, said that "complete clarity" was needed on the issue of migration.

Explosive: As the "Krone" found out from a participant in the meeting, other participants were also literally in the dark about the coronavirus vaccination. It was said that the DNA list could have gained at least a few votes from the approximately three percent it achieved with a more liberal approach. Babler was optimistic at the press conference on Monday - and he sees himself in a three-way battle for the chancellor's seat.

Trade union: "First place in the fall is very realistic"
Carinthia's governor Peter Kaiser saw a certain underlying mood as the reason why things did not go as hoped for his party. Emotions and slogans of fear had been more effective than the content put forward by the SPÖ. Lower Austria's state leader Sven Hergovich pleaded for more attention to be paid to people's everyday concerns and to be "less lecturing". Then first place in the fall would be "possible". For Josef Muchitsch, head of the Social Democratic Trade Unionist Group, an election victory in the National Council elections is even "very realistic".

ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian pointed to the ÖVP's losses and the fact that the FPÖ performed significantly worse than expected.

Election cards brought only minor change
In fact, the counting of the remaining ballot cards on Monday further narrowed the gap between the FPÖ and the ÖVP. According to the provisional final result, the Freedom Party won on Sunday with 25.36 percent, closely followed by the People's Party with 24.52 percent. The SPÖ remained in third place with 23.22 percent of the vote.

Andreas Babler wants to move from third place in the EU elections to first place in the National Council elections.

(Bild: APA/Max Slovencik)

The Greens benefited slightly from the provisional result on Sunday evening after the remaining ballot cards were counted, gaining 0.34 percentage points and coming in fourth place with 11.08%. The NEOS have climbed another 0.2 percentage points to 10.14. The KPÖ now achieved 2.96 percent and thus failed to reach the four-percent hurdle as before. There was hardly any change in the remaining ballot cards for the DNA list (2.72).

The beer party in the neck
It is also a fact that the SPÖ has the most difficult starting position. The party is not united in its programme, and third place is no turbo for mobilization. The beer party is also breathing down Babler's neck. With this in mind: cheers, supper!