Kika/Leiner - Babler calls for prosecutors, sub-committee possible

2023-06-18 11:09:25

“It’s obvious that it stinks,” it would be important for the public prosecutor to take a look at the matter, Babeler said on Sunday in the ORF “press hour”. In connection with the planned reform of the statutes in autumn, Babler did not want to specify which decisions the SPÖ members would actually be allowed to have a say in in the future.

As far as a parliamentary committee of inquiry into Kika/Leiner is concerned, Babler was open, but no decision had been made – “we’re not that far yet”. He is now primarily concerned with what will happen to the 1,900 employees who will lose their jobs. It is also important that “complete” information is provided. Now it is up to the Finanzprokuratur to check. But it would also be important for the public prosecutor’s office to take a look at the company’s “fine-tuning”, referring to the separate sale of real estate and operational business. Babler demanded that the public prosecutor’s office should investigate whether there was corruption or bribery and secure the affected property. A U-committee is one of several possibilities for clarification. “It’s crazy what happened,” said Babler.

Andreas Babler on the Kika/Leiner bankruptcy:

“reevaluation”

In the meantime, Babler has also reiterated his willingness to engage in parliamentary talks regarding the Renewable Heat Act, which is intended to phase out oil and gas heating. Under his predecessor, the SPÖ blocked two-thirds of things for a while in order to put pressure on the government, but most recently an end to the blockade was announced under the new club leadership. They “made a reassessment” and came to the conclusion that it was an “important matter”, “we will join the discussion”. It is about social issues, such as how to ensure that the landlords do not pass on the costs of the heating conversion to the tenants.

In general, Babeler was more open on climate protection issues: “We somehow have to leave the shovels behind and bring out the excavators on the issue of climate protection.” Babeler spoke out in favor of 100 km/h on the autobahn. As far as the controversial Vienna Lobau tunnel, a project of the Vienna Reds, is concerned, the new federal party chairman was skeptical: One should fundamentally “not fight more traffic with new roads”, said Babler, “it’s a vicious circle”. In the meantime, he has made appointments to exchange arguments regarding the Lobau tunnel.

Babler expressly expressed his solidarity with the concerns of the climate protectionists who are blocking roads, even if one could argue about “whether that’s always the best form of protest”. Criticism of the “climate stickers” from his own ranks, for example from the Tyrolean SPÖ boss Georg Dornauer, Babler replied that the fight against global warming had “top priority”. He criticized the fact that the government has not brought together a climate protection law for 900 days.

… on the subject of climate protection:

Statutenreform

Babler left open which decisions the party members would really have a say in after the planned reform of the statutes. The point is to actually “make the party a grassroots democratic movement”. There is a basic consensus that in future the members will be able to vote on the party chairmanship. “The goal is, of course, to be able to vote on the most important issues” – as examples in the discussion, Babeler also mentioned coalition issues or the party program. However, he also pointed out that “concerns” must be dispelled, and that quick decision-making bodies are also necessary in day-to-day political issues. Babler does not believe that the Viennese SPÖ could – once again – slow down such a reform of the statutes.

Babeler defended the fact that he himself had not respected the vote of the members in the most recent survey and then ran against Hans Peter Doskozil at the party conference: The result of the member survey, which was very close, brought “no clarity”.

His goal is to make the SPÖ number one in the next National Council election. Babler didn’t want to name a percentage with which he would be satisfied, but: “Everything that makes us stronger would be too weak for me,” he explained, looking at the last results, the goal is first place.

Babeler on his unusual path to the top of the party: