Power struggle in the SPÖ: Babler versus Ludwig – who will prevail?

Power struggle in the SPÖ: Babler versus Ludwig – who will prevail?

At the heart of the SPÖ there is a bitter power struggle for ministerial posts, which has become more intense due to party leader Andreas Babler's recent personnel requests. How oe24 reported, the conflicts began on Friday when union boss Wolfgang Katzian stated unequivocally that Korinna Schumann would be appointed the new Minister of Social Affairs. This happened after Josef Muchitsch announced that he wanted to remain in parliament. Babler accepted this proposal because the union is considered an important supporter for him. In addition, Eva-Maria Holzleitner is also to be appointed as women's minister, although Babler rejected her request to include media and culture in the ministry, which underlines his interest in these agendas.

The situation is getting worse as the federal party executive committee meets on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to discuss the hotly contested coalition agreement with the ÖVP and the Neos. How Today reports, Babler will not only present his list of ministers, but also faces enormous challenges. He plans to reject Alexander Wrabetz as finance minister and instead favor Salzburg AK employee Michaela Schmidt. He also wants to prevent the popular Sven Hergovich from the SPÖ Lower Austria from entering his ministerial list at all costs.

The wild personnel debate

There is resistance in the background: Hergovich enjoys the trust of Doris Bures and the state organization with the largest number of members, which presents Babler with a tough decision. The idea of ​​running the Ministry of Transport yourself is also being discussed Today discussed in order not to have to lose William Angelo as Secretary of State. Babler is under immense pressure because the selection of his ministers is of great importance - among other things, Muna Duzdar is being brought into play as Minister of Justice, although many lawyers would have preferred an independent appointment. Schumann is also criticized in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs because she comes from the union and not from the private sector.

The dispute arising within the SPÖ over the list of ministers could have fatal consequences for the proposed government and put considerable strain on the negotiations. A big question mark remains as to whether Babler will be able to clarify the different opinions and wishes of his party colleagues while time is running out.