Monthly new & relevant March 2026
This is moving Austria and the world.
Headlines
Vienna Mayor Rejects Replacement of Babler
Kern will not run as a candidate for party leader at the SPÖ party convention. After speculation, he ended the debate with a Face- book post. He sees a lack of consensus, criticizes the party’s devel- opment, but does not want a leadership debate. The slighted re- gional party organizations that support Kern will continue to stay away from the party executive under Babler.
Industrialist Calls for Frugality & Transparency
Industrialist Stephan Zöchling is calling for the immediate resig- nation of Vienna Chamber of Commerce (WKO Vienna) chief Wal- ter Ruck. In addition to allegations of cronyism and nepotism, supposedly pre-signed blank resignation letters have also drawn criticism. Ruck rejects all accusations and intends to remain in of- Rice until 2030.
Austria Bottom of the Table in Economic Growth
According to an Erste Group forecast, Austria will remain at the bottom in terms of economic growth in Central and Eastern Eu- rope in 2026 and 2027. Only 0.8% growth is expected for 2026 and 1.1% for 2027 – signiRicantly less than in countries such as Poland or Serbia. High wages, weak exports, and problems in Germany are acting as a drag, and consumer spending is also growing only slowly.
“Cream Roll King” Invites Sharon Stone to the Opera Ball
Hollywood star Sharon Stone visited St. Willibald and brought glamour to “Cream Roll King” Karl Guschlbauer. She did not try the cream rolls; instead, she raved about Wiener schnitzel with cab- bage.
Letters to the Editor
Subject: Level of Austria’s EU Contribution
“They say art is the gratitude of the artist.”
Why not declare justice to be the gratitude of the just? Particularly when it comes to measuring inflation.
Hedonic adjustment for assumed technological progress is a widely accepted practice. A television set, even if it has become 10% more expensive, enters the basket with a 0% price increase because it is assumed to have become at least 10% better technologically at the same time (larger, more colorful, whatever).
So if the body of EU law has grown by 100% over the last 20 years, in the service of justice, then our EU contribution in plain money should actually have been reduced by 50%, ceteris paribus.
Where is the justice deflation?
Letters to the Editor
Subject: Replacing SPÖ Leader Babler with Kern
Wanted: an SPÖ chairman who must not outshine Ludwig. Yes, Kern would also be suitable for this task.
The problem is the wording of the task – or the person assigning it.
First, Ludwig would have to go. Incidentally, it is quite similar in the ÖVP. When the entrenched “prince-electors” in the parties fail in a calculated way, ultimately only party splits or new foundations can help.
Two old party aunts, a shadow of their former selves, ideologically and tactically senile, shirking responsibility yet full of overestimated drive, expensively cared for by more or less dubious attendants who are pleased about pensions and care allowances. A pointless extension of political suffering, bought at the expense of Austria’s future prospects and its citizens’ money.
Classifieds
