AUSTRIA: SPO ELECTS FAYMANN AS PARTY LEADER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 001145

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: SPO ELECTS FAYMANN AS PARTY LEADER

REF: VIENNA 942

Classified by: Acting Economic-Political Counselor Philip
Kaplan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: SPO delegates on July 8 elected
Infrastructure Minister Werner Faymann as their new party
leader during a convention in Linz. Faymann, who was named
acting party chairman in June, will be the SPO's top
candidate in the September 28 national elections. In his
convention speech, Faymann pledged to protect workers from
globalization and rising prices and defended his policy of
calling for referenda on future EU treaties. He reiterated
his opposition to forming a coalition with the far-right FPO.
Outgoing Chancellor Gusenbauer also addressed delegates,
apologizing for his mistakes while blaming junior coalition
partner OVP for undermining his government. SPO leaders are
hoping that Faymann will prove more adept at party leadership
and coalition politics than the hapless Gusenbauer. End
Summary.

Faymann: No Coalition with FPO
--------------


2. (U) Before the vote, Faymann addressed the crowd of about
650 delegates for 30 minutes. After thanking Gusenbauer for
his 18 months of national leadership, he emphasized the need
for government to fight rising prices and provide a "social
counterweight" to the influences of economic competition and
globalization. Faymann reiterated his stance against forming
a governing alliance with the far-right FPO, declaring that
his party would have "nothing to do" with them. He also
promised to engage in open discussions within the party
before reaching decisions.

Defends EU Referenda
--------------


3. (U) Faymann defended his recent, controversial decision,
backed by Gusenbauer, to declare that henceforth the SPO will
call for referenda on any future EU treaties (reftel A). He
averred that the SPO remains pro-European, but wants to see
an EU that is more attentive to the needs of workers. He
said national referenda would help the EU develop a new
treaty adopted "with the people, not against them." Faymann
mocked those in the OVP who have said the SPO's about-face on
EU referenda has damaged Austria's image in Europe. Noting
that the OVP formed a coalition government with the FPO in
2000, leading to diplomatic sanctions by the other EU
members, Faymann said it was "unbelievable" that the OVP was
claiming to be concerned about Austria's image.


4. (U) Faymann's comments were, in part, an indirect response
to a recent open letter signed by former Finance Minister
Lacina and other prominent SPO figures criticizing, among
other things, the party's new policy on EU referenda and the
sudden transfer of leadership from Gusenbauer to Faymann.
The letter accuses party leaders of undermining the party's
democratic decision-making process.

Gusenbauer Apologizes, Blames OVP
--------------


5. (U) Gusenbauer, speaking before Faymann, apologized for
his mistakes but accused the OVP of bringing down his
government by blocking SPO initiatives at every turn.
Gusenbauer stuck by his social democratic principles, stating
that he had tried to bind social justice with individual
freedom. He expressed pride that 40 percent of the SPO MPs
are women, including parliamentary President Barbara Prammer.



6. (U) Over 98 percent of the delegates voted for Faymann as
party chairman, a position he has held on an acting basis
since a June 16 party presidium meeting (reftel B).

Comment: Faymann Viewed as a Leader
--------------


7. (C) Gusenbauer, whose 544 days in office will mark the
shortest tenure of any Austrian chancellor since World War
II, suffered from low popularity ratings from nearly the
start of his term. Leaders within his own party often
complained that he failed to communicate with them and
criticized his lack of charisma. It is not clear in which
direction Faymann will now steer the SPO. Contacts tell us
that Faymann, unlike Gusenbauer, is a pragmatist who does not
appear to hold strong ideological views. SPO leaders seem to
have rallied behind Faymann in the belief that he would fare
better than Gusenbauer in managing relations with a coalition
partner (or partners) and among SPO members.

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