VZCZCXRO1274
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHVI #0843 1691401
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171401Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0376
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES

UNCLAS VIENNA 000843 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/AGS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL AU
SUBJECT: Austria: SPO Re-Structures in Response Internal Troubles 
 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT 
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1.(U)Summary: Following increasing internal criticism of Chancellor 
Gusenbauer's leadership of the SPO, party members decided on June 16 
to split the offices of party chairman and chancellor. Gusenbauer 
will remain chancellor, while Infrastructure Minister Faymann will 
serve as party chairman.  Women's Affairs Minister Bures will 
replace the two current party managers, and a new women's affairs 
minister will be appointed. End Summary. 
 
SPO Troubles 
------------ 
 
¶2. (U) Suffering from low popularity ratings nearly from the 
beginning of his chancellorship, Gusenbauer came under increasing 
fire from within his party, as well as the media, when the SPO 
suffered severe losses in the provincial ballot in Tyrol on June 8. 
The SPO had already lost badly in the provincial elections in Lower 
Austria in March, and in the municipal elections in the Styrian 
capital Graz in January.  While the election losses were only partly 
attributable to the SPO's policies in the Grand Coalition government 
at the federal level, Gusenbauer became the scapegoat.  Gusenbauer's 
aloofness and lack of charisma were openly criticized.  Influential 
provincial SPO figures like Salzburg Governor Gabi Burgstaller 
attacked Gusenbauer for "not communicating" with them; Burgstaller 
even resigned from her position as deputy party chairwoman two weeks 
ago.  Discussing potential scenarios for the October SPO party 
convention, media reports floated various possible candidates to 
succeed Gusenbauer as party chairman and chancellor, ranging from 
Infrastructure Minister Faymann to TV manager Gerhard Zeiler. 
 
June 16 Presidium Meeting 
------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) To relieve the pressure from party colleagues and the media, 
Gusenbauer made a quick move at the June 16 SPO presidium meeting 
and proposed Faymann as acting party chairman.  Following intensive 
discussions on whether the positions of party chairman and 
chancellor should be split, the presidium appointed Faymann as 
acting chairman, to be elected chairman at the October party 
convention.  In a press briefing after the meeting, both Gusenbauer 
and Faymann stressed that Gusenbauer would remain chancellor and be 
the SPO's top candidate in the next elections. 
 
¶4. (U) As a further measure to react to criticism of the party 
leadership, Women's Affairs Minister Bures was appointed new SPO 
party manager, replacing current managers Josef Kalina and Reinhard 
Winterauer.  A new women's affairs minister will be appointed "in 
the next days or weeks," noted Gusenbauer.  Bures had served 
previously as party manager before being named minister. 
 
Faymann 
------- 
 
¶5. (U) While Faymann's appointment gives Gusenbauer room to breathe, 
it is unlikely to solve the party's current problems.  Critics often 
accuse Gusenbauer of being too conciliatory toward the OVP, the 
SPO's junior coalition partner.  Faymann, known for his ability to 
broker compromises with the OVP in his position as coalition 
coordinator, is not a promising candidate to chart a more aggressive 
SPO course in the coalition.  Many observers expect that Faymann, in 
the long run, will take over the chancellorship from Gusenbauer. 
 
OVP 
--- 
 
¶6. (U) OVP leaders have so far not commented on the developments in 
the SPO, noting that they need time to assess the new situation. 
The government reshuffle due to Bures' resignation as women's 
affairs minister creates an opportunity for the OVP to change some 
of its cabinet members.  Most prominently, Interior Minister Platter 
may want to take over as governor of Tyrol.  Other possible changes 
being discussed in the media include transferring Environment 
Minister Proell to the Interior Ministry and replacing controversial 
Health Minister Kdolsky. 
 
Comment: A Change But Not a Solution 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) This re-shuffle will likely prove to be an interim step, 
possibly leading to Faymann's eventual appointment as chancellor. 
It does not address the SPO's real problems - its failure to gain 
the support of its constituents for compromises with the OVP, and 
the lack of a charismatic leader.  KILNER