Maybe it's just me, but with the media spinning his name around and above and everywhere, I kind of get a feeling that in the end it won't be Kern we will be getting, and instead they will draw some apparatchnik out of some hat and call him a "compromise" candidate of what sorts. (not that Kern would be anything different, I fully agree with aross in that he is not at all an "outsider") Häupl is not really on board with Kern as far as I recall, and that guy still is a force within the SPÖ.
Nah, I think it will be Kern.
Kern would probably be a good choice overall, especially to rebuild the party in opposition (which is the most likely path for the SPÖ in the next few years, because FPÖVP seems almost certain after the next elections, probably held next year or in the fall - who knows ?).
Kern could bring together the 3 competing factions within the SPÖ, because he's won praise among the leftist wing of the party last year because of his asylum transport management. He could also find a way to bring the "blue-dogs" who want closer co-operation with the FPÖ back in line, especially if the migrant stream slows down considerably when compared with the previous year. Frankly, I don't see anyone within the current SPÖ who'd be better qualified than Kern to achieve it.
That's because Kern has so far only been in the "safe space" of a public, SPÖ-near company; never however in the true spotlight of politics. The fact remains that we don't really know him, his set of policies, how he would govern or work in opposition - I just don't like make someone like him the
Bundeskanzler of all offices.
