SPÖ leader Andreas Babler was there for the first time. He used his appearance to once again warn against a black-blue government or a “prison a la Kickl” that he sees threatening if the Freedom Party comes to power. Austria is faced with a decision on its direction. This government is “finished” and now it’s time to stop an authoritarian turn.
Babler fears “attacks” on democratic institutions from the judiciary to the Chamber of Labor. The SPÖ chairman sees the success of his party all the more necessary and immediately joined forces with the Vienna regional organization after there had been one or two dissonances in the past few months. Babler emphasized that he knew that Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) was at his side to make social democracy noticeable.
Fighting the climate crisis
In terms of content, the SPÖ leader gave a lot of space to combating the climate crisis, and in the course of it he even sees free access to drinking water at risk. There was also an increase in prices, as it took away people’s dignity. Finally, Babler also advocated a reduction in working hours, which should gradually move towards a four-day week, starting with care. This demand also shaped the speech by AK President Renate Anderl, who was allowed to make an appearance in view of the Chamber of Labor election campaign. Where working hours have already been reduced, employees have become more productive and there have been fewer sick days: “The future must be that we go down.” Anderl also put pressure on expanding apprentice training.
The AK leader argued why one should vote social democratic: “Because we are the good ones who work for the many day in and day out.” The club conference will again take place in the St. Martins Therme and Lodge – the now traditional venue.
The Burgenland state party was missing
At the beginning of the event, Ludwig and Anderl moved into the seminar room together to applause and the sounds of the classic hit “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” by Fleetwod Mac. The Burgenland state party, with which relations remain cold, was not represented at the start. The welcoming words came from club chairman Josef Taucher. “We don’t stop thinking about tomorrow because we want to shape the future, we Social Democrats in Vienna,” he assured. The motto of the conference was “Work, Change, Future”.
The work, Taucher emphasized, is currently changing significantly. “We have to offer solutions that are not one-way solutions,” he said with conviction. Solutions are needed for different professional groups, for example when it comes to working hours or the possibility of working from home. In any case, the SPÖ is the party that wants to shape the future. Even if that isn’t easy at the moment, as Taucher said: “At the moment we are often pressured by the conservatives to defend our achievements.” Inflation is currently the top issue in all surveys. “People are limiting themselves.”
Since the federal government did not manage to introduce a rent cap at the necessary pace, they took action and supported the Viennese. A lot of things have been equalized, especially for the lower income groups, said Taucher. There probably won’t be any sensational announcements like in previous years this year, club boss Taucher indicated. Lighthouses and billion-dollar projects cannot be constantly “shaked out,” he pointed out. It’s more about supporting the Viennese with what they need – from elementary education to care.
