Andreas Babler, a Marxist who has described the EU as a worse military alliance than NATO, is the new head of Austria’s Social Democratic Party. To win, he narrowly beat an anti-immigrant candidate. Now he must rout the Right within the party.
As an Austrian, I can tell you this: Even though he might be a true marxist at heart, he won’t be able to push “too marxist” agendas nor an anti-EU course as the leader of the SPÖ (Socialist party of Austria). That would be political ruin, which is the last thing he needs after taking over the party - which has been in shambles over the last years.
But it is a promising candidate for sure for the left, which have very few options these days. The KPÖ (Communist party of Austria) is on the rise due to its increasing focus on social politics in certain regions. - But the name alone scares many, and also some members have issues with distancing themselves from Putin - which is very unpopular. So getting a mandate at the federal level is pretty hard for them.
But it is a promising candidate for sure for the left, which have very few options these days. The KPÖ (Communist party of Austria) is on the rise due to its increasing focus on social politics in certain regions. - But the name alone scares many, and also some members have issues with distancing themselves from Putin - which is very unpopular. So getting a mandate at the federal level is pretty hard for them.
my external understanding of the KPÖ is that it’s basically irrelevant nationally, but it has a handful of areas where it’s really robust and powerful, and that presence keeps it from decaying into total nonexistence as has happened with many other eponymous European communist parties. not the worst situation to be in, all things considered.
As an Austrian, I can tell you this: Even though he might be a true marxist at heart, he won’t be able to push “too marxist” agendas nor an anti-EU course as the leader of the SPÖ (Socialist party of Austria). That would be political ruin, which is the last thing he needs after taking over the party - which has been in shambles over the last years.
But it is a promising candidate for sure for the left, which have very few options these days. The KPÖ (Communist party of Austria) is on the rise due to its increasing focus on social politics in certain regions. - But the name alone scares many, and also some members have issues with distancing themselves from Putin - which is very unpopular. So getting a mandate at the federal level is pretty hard for them.
my external understanding of the KPÖ is that it’s basically irrelevant nationally, but it has a handful of areas where it’s really robust and powerful, and that presence keeps it from decaying into total nonexistence as has happened with many other eponymous European communist parties. not the worst situation to be in, all things considered.