Babler optimistic

“Disgraceful spectacle” now over

SPÖ chairman Andreas Babler now wants to quickly seek stable majorities in parliament.

(Bild: APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

A stable government is once again a distant prospect. All parties are now called upon to take responsibility for the country and create stable majorities in parliament. This could eventually lead to a coalition, commented SPÖ leader Andreas Babler. 

Over the past few days, there had been an "unworthy spectacle" that Austria did not deserve. However, he also expressed relief that "an extreme right-wing chancellor was prevented".

In the meantime, his party had held talks with the NEOS, the Greens and on Thursday also with the ÖVP in order to sound out majorities for important reforms and legislative projects. Babler rejected FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl's call for immediate new elections. A month-long election campaign would "not be good for the country".

The SPÖ leader spoke with the Federal President in the afternoon, before which he had consulted with his presidency and subsequently announced that he considered new elections to be wrong. Instead, he mentioned two options. On the one hand, there could be parliamentary cooperation in order to quickly achieve a stable budget situation. On the other hand, these talks with the ÖVP, NEOS and the Greens could then also lead to a coalition. And very quickly, as Babler explained in the evening on ORF's ZiB2: "It could really be finalized within two or three weeks."

Herbert Kickl wants new elections, but very few parties are in favor of this.

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

Most of the participants in the red party presidium preferred to enter the meeting room through a back entrance. Women's leader Eva Maria Holzleitner, on the other hand, dispelled rumors that Babler could be replaced as chief negotiator. As head of the party, he would of course remain in charge.

The red hand remains outstretched
It is understood that the SPÖ is prepared to negotiate with the ÖVP and that Babler will also lead the negotiations. However, the role of the Vienna regional party is to be significantly enhanced.

Doris Bures, the Third President of the National Council, is a possible candidate, although she is currently on business in the USA. In principle, the Social Democrats would be available for various options. However, a two-party cooperation with the ÖVP, supplemented by thematic partnerships with other parties in order to secure the wafer-thin majority of just one mandate, was recently considered more likely. Babler himself will make a statement after the presidency.