Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler has announced his resignation but will remain in office until late 2026. An OGM survey for BLICKWECHSEL on ServusTV shows the SPÖ at 12 percent support, while the Green Party holds 15 percent. Babler plans to stay Media Minister.
Eva-Maria Holzleitner and Philip Kucher are supporting Babler in an executive capacity to prepare for the transition. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer is scheduled to take over in 2027, provided his health permits following a recent cancer diagnosis.
Public opinion is divided as 65 percent of respondents prefer Babler's immediate resignation, while 40 percent favor new elections. The SPÖ will meet October 8, 2026, to formalize these shifts. Meanwhile, Gerhard Zeiler has offered to lead the party.