Vorarlberg SPÖ chief urges focus on ideas, not leadership posts

Vorarlberg Social Democratic Party leader Mario Leiter says party members can contribute without holding office, as the SPÖ faces a public debate over its leadership. He told ORF that the party should focus on policy ideas rather than personnel discussions.

SPÖ leader Andreas Babler has invited the regional party chiefs to meet in Vienna on Sunday to discuss recent developments, ORF reported. Leiter said he would not prejudge the outcome of the informal meeting.

Media manager Gerhard Zeiler has publicly expressed interest in taking over the party leadership. Leiter said he was surprised by Zeiler’s move and had not known he planned to go public. He noted that Babler won more than 80 percent of the vote at the party congress six months ago, where he was the only candidate.

Leiter said there is currently no party congress or leadership election scheduled. Any change would require a new congress and must follow procedures set out in the party’s statutes, he said. After Sunday’s meeting, Leiter plans to convene Vorarlberg’s expanded regional party executive to brief members and discuss decisions for the regional party.

Leiter said he welcomed people who wanted to work for the SPÖ, adding that they did not need to hold an office or a seat to contribute ideas.