Doskozil says Babler must draw consequences over SPÖ slump

Burgenland Governor Hans Peter Doskozil has sharply criticised Austria’s federal Social Democratic Party, the SPÖ, and its leader Andreas Babler, telling ORF that the party’s condition was “miserable” and suggesting Babler should resign if he cannot restore its credibility.

Doskozil said in an ORF summer interview with political journalist Viktoria Waldegger that he had remained silent for a long time so that nobody would accuse him of being upset because he had not become federal party leader. But the situation had now reached a point where the party could no longer simply carry on as before, he said.

According to Doskozil, internal polls showed the SPÖ at between 13 and 14 percent, while the raw data was even worse, according to polling experts. “There is a fire on the roof. This condition is miserable, and we need answers,” he said.

He said the SPÖ needed to adopt clearer policies and position itself in a way that would restore credibility and trust. Asked whether federal party leader Andreas Babler should resign, Doskozil said that this was the party leader’s responsibility and that, if Babler was not up to the task, he would have to “draw the consequences”, as would be expected in any business, company or political movement.

The full interview with Doskozil is scheduled to air on ORF radio’s Ö1 midday journal from noon.

The SPÖ’s weak polling has also prompted criticism of Babler from within the party. Doskozil warned that the party could develop into a minor party. The SPÖ’s federal leadership did not respond to ORF inquiries.

Markus Gstöttner, general secretary of the Austrian People’s Party, said in a statement that Doskozil’s criticism of the federal government did not withstand a fact check.