Andreas Babler will step down next year from the position of Vice Chancellor of Austria and from leading the Social Democrats

Austria’s Vice Chancellor, Andreas Babler, has announced that next year he will step down both from his government position and as leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), the governing party. The decision comes amid growing discontent within the party, driven by the Social Democrats’ declining support in opinion polls, Reuters reports.

Babler, who leads the SPÖ and serves as vice chancellor, has yielded to internal pressure as the party faces declining electoral support. His departure is scheduled for next year, but no exact date has been specified and no details have been announced regarding his successor.

The decision paves the way for a change at the helm of one of Austria’s main political parties and could affect the balance within the governing coalition. The Social Democratic Party will have to determine both the party’s new leader and the person who will take over as vice chancellor. The announcement marks a new phase of internal instability for the SPÖ, as polling results have intensified criticism of its leadership.