AUSTRIA: Austria's Social Democrats stripped chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer of his party leadership position yesterday after a series of regional election setbacks.
Dr Gusenbauer remains the coalition government leader but was replaced as Social Democratic chairman by infrastructure minister Werner Faymann, officials said after a meeting called by the disgruntled party executive.
Mr Faymann denied reports he was being groomed to take over as chancellor amid criticism of Dr Gusenbauer over his party's poor showing in recent provincial elections and accusations the national government is dominated by conservative coalition partners.
"I support Gusenbauer remaining as federal chancellor and see him also as our leadership candidate in the next election [scheduled in 2010]," Mr Faymann told reporters.
Political commentators, however, say many Social Democrats fear the party will be defeated in 2010 if Dr Gusenbauer continues as chancellor.
The Social Democrats narrowly upset the incumbent People's Party in the October 2006 election and formed a "grand coalition".
But the bloc has been rocky from the outset, with paralysing disputes over social and health policies. Polls show the bickering damaged both parties in the recent provincial votes, but affected the Social Democrats even more because of Dr Gusenbauer's perceived weak leadership. - (Reuters)