No alternative – Babler insists on imposing a new tax
At the 47th Ordinary Party Congress of the Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (Social Democratic Party of Austria, SPÖ), party leader أندرياس بابلر insisted that introducing a millionaire’s tax is unavoidable, declaring there is “no alternative” as Austria faces economic and social challenges.
More than 1,000 party officials and supporters gathered at the congress, where أندرياس بابلر delivered a major speech outlining the party’s priorities. The SPÖ leadership argued that the previous government left Austria in serious difficulty and that the current administration must now restore stability under the slogan “Ordnung statt spalten (Order instead of divide).”
During his speech, أندرياس بابلر briefly addressed international tensions, expressing solidarity with civilians in the Middle East and supporting the Iranian people’s right to democracy and freedom. He stressed that protecting civilian lives must remain a priority and called for an end to attacks affecting the region.
Returning to domestic politics, أندرياس بابلر defended the government’s decision to impose additional financial contributions on banks and reiterated his commitment to introducing a millionaire’s tax. According to him, market forces alone cannot regulate fairness, pointing to fuel pricing as an example where increases are passed on quickly while price reductions often lag behind.
The SPÖ leader accused energy companies of exploiting crises such as the Iran conflict to raise prices, calling such practices immoral. He said the government would act quickly to prevent price gouging and ensure consumers are protected from unfair costs.
Healthcare reform was another key focus. أندرياس بابلر said the government plans to push for more doctors to work within the public health insurance system. He also highlighted violence against women as a serious structural problem in Austrian society, describing it as an issue that requires stronger social and political action.
Migration policy also played a central role in his address. أندرياس بابلر argued that the SPÖ wants to take the migration debate away from the Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (Freedom Party of Austria, FPÖ) by focusing on practical solutions rather than political division.
Drawing on his experience as former mayor of Traiskirchen, أندرياس بابلر said the asylum system needs better organization. He proposed stronger German language support and faster access to the labor market so that refugees can contribute economically. “People should pay taxes instead of costing taxes,” he said, emphasizing integration through employment.
Finally, أندرياس بابلر acknowledged the party’s recent weak polling numbers, admitting that internal disputes had sometimes made the SPÖ appear disorganized. He said the party must learn from those mistakes and work toward presenting a united front in the future.