Federal Education Conference of the SPÖ: “The Future of Social Democracy”
Vienna (OTS) – “Social democracy is more important today than ever. It is important for social justice, for distributive justice, for equal opportunities,” emphasized the chairman of the SPÖ federal education organization, LAbg. Gerhard Schmid, on Saturday at the SPÖ federal education conference in the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg. The SPÖ Federal Education Conference had the motto “The Future of Social Democracy” and was opened by the chairman of the SPÖ Salzburg, David Egger. He referred to the black-blue “backsliding government” in Salzburg and its anti-democratic and anti-scientific course and stated: “Education is the best remedy against poverty, against fears and against a lack of prospects.” Video messages came from SPÖ federal chairman Andreas Babler and the president of Karl -Renner Institute, Second President of the National Council Doris Bures. As part of the conference, the Federal Education Presidium was re-elected: The SPÖ’s election proposal for the Federal Education Presidium was accepted with an overwhelming majority. Gerhard Schmid was re-elected as Federal Education Chairman with 89.68 percent of the vote. His deputies are Bernd Dobersberger, Sabine Letz, Ruth Manninger, Wolfgang Moitzi, Beate Raabe-Schasching and Ernst Woller. ****
According to the motto of the conference, the chairman of the SPÖ federal education, LAbg. Gerhard Schmid, the chairwoman of the SPÖ education Salzburg, NRAbg. Michaela Schmidt, the federal chairman of the Working Group for Education in the SPD, Ulf Daude, SPÖ federal manager Sandra Breiteneder and the chairman of the Austrian Socialist Youth Association, Paul Stich. Stich pointed out that multiple crises make people look pessimistic and negative about the future and turn to the right. “Social democracy must be a credible alternative, we must make our issues clear.” Referring to the many new members of the SPÖ, Sandra Breiteneder explained that it was important to be in contact with these committed people, to discuss with them, to get them involved to include political work. It is particularly gratifying that many people are still joining the SPÖ, precisely because they feel addressed by the SPÖ’s demands, for example when it comes to the issue of fair supply.
Gerhard Schmid emphasized: “The basis of every success is when there is a positive mood inside.” This positive mood is noticeable, now it is “important to appear united and disciplined to the outside world.” Ulf Daude described his experiences: “The ‘social democratic The devil’s work works when you don’t just discuss topics, but also do it.” So the saying “advancement through education” must also be noticeable. You have to do this actively in order to be credible. The discussants agreed that one should have the courage to tackle topics. Without fear of discussions and negative media coverage. This can be achieved if you inspire people, if you let committed people get involved and take part, and above all, if you offer them educational opportunities and support within the party. “We can be proud of our ideas, we can advertise and inspire people with our ideas,” summarized Breiteneder. Daude’s conclusion: “Be brave and get going”
Schmid sees the tasks of the SPÖ federal formation as, on the one hand, the training of officials as well as fundamental work in close coordination with the Renner Institute and the partner organizations in the states. In addition, networking with other organizations, federal states and at an international level is an important part of educational work. In his report, Schmid referred, among other things, to the successful project “Zeit.Talks with Gerhard Schmid”, in which 74 interviews have already taken place with personalities from many areas of society, which are available as audio and video. The topics of Europe, culture and sport, but especially the area of artificial intelligence, where fundamental questions need to be clarified, are also central to the future work of federal education.
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