In the ORF “press hour” on Sunday he stated that the “rule of law is not defensive enough”, but as an antidote he called for more police officers and a youth court. In the National Council election, Babler, whose SPÖ is far behind the FPÖ in polls, hopes to remain in first place; he only ruled out a coalition with the Freedom Party.
- Possible coalitions after the election:
Despite the increasing number of knife attacks by young people, SPÖ leader Andreas Babler is against lowering the age of criminal responsibility. In the ORF “press hour” on Sunday he stated that the “rule of law is not defensive enough”, but as an antidote he called for more police officers and a youth court. In the National Council election, Babler, whose SPÖ is far behind the FPÖ in polls, hopes to remain in first place; he only ruled out a coalition with the Freedom Party.
Babler admitted that there were “mistakes and tasks” in the area of migration and integration, but the ÖVP was almost always responsible for this area. There are “problem areas,” “parallel societies” and “ghettoization,” criticized Babler. “We need a defensive republic that can enforce the rule of law.” This requires more police officers, but also a youth court and small-scale, supervised institutions with compulsory residence for young criminals. Prevention work is also important. For Babler, however, reducing criminal responsibility is not a recipe: locking up children would only result in them “staying on the wrong track,” he believes. He called for ankle bracelets for men who threatened women with violence.
- On the consequences of migration:
Babler rejected an asylum cap; he said no one could seriously discuss such proposals. “Active border protection management”, complete registration, regulated procedures and return agreements are necessary.
Babler tried to react calmly to the crossfire from his own party: Of course there are discussions in a large party, he tries to discuss internally and advocates for it. “This could be made even more professional,” he told his comrades. Babler said he was even “happy” about statements like those made by Second National Council President Doris Bures (SPÖ) in a “press” interview, according to which it was not a good recipe to “run after a false messiah,” because: “I am Countermodel of a Messiah”, it is good to get away from the cult of personality.
- Financing care through property taxes:
In the polls, Babler’s SPÖ is currently well behind the FPÖ, but the SPÖ leader still believes it is realistic to reach first place in the National Council election in September. The fact that a coalition with the FPÖ is out of the question is “unchangeable”, but it is “open” with all other parties – including the ÖVP, which Babler had de facto excluded in the meantime. The ÖVP needs to think about how to reposition itself, said Babler. Babler left it open whether the SPÖ members would be allowed to vote on a coalition agreement after the election in the worst case scenario – the SPÖ would first discuss internally whether it was necessary.
- Concept of a transformation fund:
Babler once again criticized the current government policy, for example with regard to the measures against inflation. The SPÖ leader once again insisted on a rent cap, a cap on gas prices and a suspension of VAT on basic foodstuffs. He also stuck to his demands for a gradual reduction in working hours with full wage compensation and property taxes.
- Guarantee on doctor’s appointments:
His recently called for “transformation fund” is about how best to take action against global warming, in the form of investments and state participation, because “the free radical market that was propagated” has “failed”. However, when asked about financing, Babler simply pointed out that he would rather invest instead of buying certificates and paying fines.
- On the mayoral election in Salzburg:
In a broadcast, ÖVP general secretary Christian Stocker attested to Babler’s “stress fantasies” with which he wanted to “punish hard-working people.” Economically, Babler wants to bring Austria “ever closer to communist conditions,” fears Stocker. “SPÖ Chairman Babler demonstrates an understanding of economic and location policy that is particularly worrying in view of the latest economic forecasts from WIFO and IHS,” said Economic Chamber General Secretary Karlheinz Kopf, criticizing “ideas of burden and nationalization fantasies” as “location policy aberrations.” “A swan song for the free market economy is a swan song for Austria as a location – the reactionary nationalization fantasies, as presented by SPÖ chairman Andreas Babler in the ORF press hour today, would be a blatant step backwards for the domestic business and industrial location,” says also the industrial association.
