Lercher calls SPÖ leadership deal a difficult compromise

Styria’s Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) leader Max Lercher has called the party’s interim leadership arrangement a “difficult compromise” after a meeting of regional party chiefs in Vienna on Sunday, ORF reported. He said the agreement should be given a chance, though he had hoped for more.

The national SPÖ plans to reorganise in the coming months following weeks of debate over its leadership. Party leader Andreas Babler announced a phased withdrawal on Sunday evening, after hours of internal discussions.

Under the interim arrangement, Babler will remain party leader for now, supported by parliamentary group leader Philip Kucher and Women’s Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer is expected to become vice-chancellor in early 2027 and take over the party after he has fully recovered. A final leadership arrangement is due to be decided at a party congress in spring 2027.

Lercher said the meeting had brought some clarity, but more work was needed. He said the party had avoided a threatened split and should focus less on internal disputes and more on people’s concerns to rebuild lost trust.

Asked whether he would have wanted to lead the national party, Lercher said, “I don’t think that’s something one would wish for.” He said he was glad to be in Styria and wanted to help the SPÖ nationally, while putting Styria first.