SPÖ Voters Show Little Support for Media Executive Zeiler as Party Leader

Recent polling indicates that media manager Gerhard Zeiler is struggling to gain traction with the Social Democratic electorate. An OGM poll conducted for Servus-TV’s “Blickwechsel” shows only 16% of SPÖ voters would choose Zeiler as party chief, versus 41% who prefer Babler, and 22% who desire a different candidate. Zeiler also faces a recognition gap, with 73% of those surveyed saying they would not identify him on the street.

A Lazarsfeld poll for oe24 suggests that the SPÖ would reach just 19% support under Zeiler, only two points higher than with Babler. Among respondents, 29% consider Zeiler at least potentially electable, while 38% deem him unelectable. Party figures such as Burgenland leader Hans Peter Doskozil and Vienna mayor Michael Ludwig have remained largely silent on the issue, offering only limited comments about internal discussions.