Meet The Parties: Social Democratic Party
Austria's SPÖ answers questions on the economy, healthcare, foreign policy, and whether they would go into coalition with the far-right Freedom Party
With this edition, ahead of the election on September 29, you are receiving the first in a series of Q&As with Austria’s leading political parties called “Meet The Parties.” The aim of the series is to help voters make more informed decisions and all readers gain a better understanding of where the parties stand on the economy, healthcare, and foreign policy. The series begins with the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) led by Andreas Babler.
What does the SPÖ stand for? What are your party’s three primary values?
Justice, solidarity, and democracy.
Last year, the party signaled a change of direction when Andreas Babler was elected party leader. Since then, the party’s polling numbers have remained unimpressive. Did the party make the right decision in electing Babler leader and why has he failed to break through to voters?
Contrary to how the opinion polls looked before the European elections, the FPÖ is now within striking distance for us and first place is possible. A look at France shows how elections can be won even if the polls are predicting otherwise.
Andreas Babler is a politician who really listens to people, understands their problems, and knows how to solve them. With his heart and with his head, he is the right choice to lead the SPÖ and the right choice to make Austria better as chancellor. This election is a decision on the future of Austria. The people deserve better than the ÖVP and FPÖ’s dog-eat-dog politics. The SPÖ will lower prices for housing and food, rebuild the healthcare system that was ruined by the previous ÖVP-FPÖ coalition, and abolish child poverty.
Would you go into coalition with the Freedom Party?
No. The SPÖ, under Andreas Babler, has ruled out a coalition with the FPÖ. We have seen in the past what the FPÖ and ÖVP have done in government: massive pension cuts, dismantling our healthcare system, introducing the 60-hour working week. The FPÖ/ÖVP list of gruesome policies is long.
Austria is in a state of economic malaise. What measures would you take to kickstart the economy?
The current government's record is disastrous: prices have risen by 22 percent; unemployment is rising; prosperity has fallen. At the same time, the ÖVP and the Greens have produced a budget deficit of 10 billion euros. The government's fight against inflation—one-off payments that fizzled out without effect—was ineffective and resulted in billions in profits for energy companies. At the same time, Austria had the highest inflation in western Europe for 18 months.
The SPÖ is calling for sustainable investment to boost growth—and fair taxes on millionaires. The SPÖ’s aim is to maintain prosperity, jobs, and the natural environment. With our proposed Climate Transformation Fund, the SPÖ wants to strengthen Austria as an industrial nation with good green jobs.
How would you resolve the problems in the healthcare system including personnel shortages and longer wait times?
For a long time, Austria's healthcare system was a role model for other countries. Regardless of income, people knew they would receive good care. The SPÖ wants to rebuild the healthcare system. People should know they can get an appointment with a doctor when they need one.
Three key points: state-guaranteed medical appointments; doubling the number of university placements for medicine, prioritizing those who commit to working in the public healthcare system; and additional public funding for the healthcare system.
With Russia’s war against Ukraine in mind, does Austria need a new security doctrine? Should it surrender its neutrality and join NATO?
No. Austria's neutrality has proven its value over the almost seventy years of its existence under changing geopolitical circumstances and has guaranteed Austria's security. Austria should therefore continue to abstain from war, stationing foreign troops on its territory, and becoming a member of any military alliance. Austria should return to having an active policy of neutrality and recommit itself to peace, democracy, and human rights.
Should Austria’s ban on dual citizenship be repealed?
We are in favor of facilitating the acquisition of Austrian citizenship in the interests of successful integration and want to lower the existing income hurdles. Many people who have worked here for decades as cleaners, in supermarkets, or as care workers cannot get citizenship because they earn too little. Aside from that, multiple citizenships should only be an exception.
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