Withdrawal of the SPÖ leader: Too little delivered

A reduction in weekly working hours to 32 hours, a sixth week of vacation, inheritance and wealth taxes: Andreas Babler had promised a lot in the internal race for the SPÖ leadership. He could barely hold on to any of it. Three years later he had to say goodbye as Vice Chancellor and SPÖ leader - the internal pressure became too great.

His results after a year and a half in government are by no means all bad: Babler brought capable people into the cabinet. Bank levy, rent controls and the halved VAT on basic foodstuffs bear a clear red signature.

However, in view of persistent inflation, weak growth and numerous company bankruptcies, the SPÖ did not deliver enough in terms of social policy. Major reforms, from health to education, from pensions to social assistance, failed to materialize.

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There are some things that Babler can't do. On the one hand, there is the SPÖ itself, whose complicated power structure and disunity make the party leadership an ejection seat. Many party leaders, especially the three red state governors (prime ministers), are more concerned about their own sinecures than about the bigger picture.

Added to this is the SPÖ's junior role in the government: as the left-wing partner of the conservative ÖVP and the even smaller liberal Neos, it is finding it difficult in times of austerity. Even on supposedly uncontroversial issues such as compulsory military service, only weak compromises can be achieved.

All of this reflects on Babler, who had to struggle with resistance from the start. Critics and some comrades had accused the long-time mayor of being too class militant. The fact that the tabloids have been targeting him for months does the rest. The reason: As media minister, Babler massively reduced government advertising and also wants to reform the misguided media funding. At least he can continue to work on this in 2027, because he should remain media minister.