Stadler urges SPÖ to focus on governing, not internal criticism

St Pölten Mayor Matthias Stadler has urged Austria’s Social Democratic Party, the SPÖ, to stop publicly debating whether federal party leader and Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler should be replaced. Speaking to the Austrian Press Agency in an interview reported by ORF, Stadler said such discussions were counterproductive and should take place internally.

“It is long past time that we rolled up our sleeves,” Stadler said, pointing to the many issues that still need to be resolved. He said he would not join public criticism of Babler and would instead address dissatisfaction with party officials through personal discussions or the relevant party bodies.

Stadler attributed the SPÖ’s weak polling results partly to its role in the federal government. “When you are in such a difficult situation, it is usually the governing parties that lose,” he said. However, he said the SPÖ had accepted responsibility together with the Austrian People’s Party and NEOS, while Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl had “backed away”.

Stadler has been mayor of St Pölten since 2004 and is the longest-serving mayor of Austria’s Second Republic. After the SPÖ lost the absolute majority it had held since 1965 in January’s municipal election, he formed the city’s first governing partnership with the Greens.

He described the coalition’s start as positive, saying the two parties had so far reached consensus on various issues. The financial consolidation process launched in 2024 was continuing to take effect and could create room for manoeuvre again from 2028.

On alternatives to the S34 Traisental expressway, the city plans to invite tenders this year for professional development work. Stadler said the process was in its final coordination phase.

The coalition is also working on a lasting solution to the planned return of livestreams of city council meetings. Details are being coordinated with Austria’s Federal Monuments Office because of the design of the city hall.

No long-term solution has yet been found for St Pölten’s LUP city bus system. Stadler said the city was holding financing talks with the state of Lower Austria and continued to seek equal one-third funding from the city, the state and the federal government. The federal government has already agreed to its share.

Each of the three parties would be responsible for 5.4 million euros a year under a funding period of eight years, plus a possible two-year extension, Stadler said. He called for a decision in the autumn but said a solution remained possible.