ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS Report Progress After Meeting
The meeting was brought forward following a dispute over the salary settlement for public servants. Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), Andreas Babler (SPÖ) and Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) also exchanged views on the progress of the government negotiations.
ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS with Different Approaches to Solutions
After the discussion, Babler and Meinl-Reisinger pointed out the budgetary and economic challenges facing the country. The known approaches to solutions of the parties differ widely. Meinl-Reisinger found it "particularly important to once again emphasize our responsibility for a common understanding of the consolidation path, also with regard to the ongoing reform negotiations in the subgroups." "Saving into the crisis" is the wrong way for Babler: "In addition to expenditure-side measures, there will be no way around revenue-side consolidation."
Nehammer merely emphasized that major challenges could only be solved by a broad "alliance of the majority and reason from the center". The conversation also covered the further roadmap and the meetings of the subgroups, according to the joint statement. The party leaders highlighted the constructive discussions in the subgroups as a sign of the willingness of all participants to tackle pressing challenges together. They also emphasized the importance of intensive dialogue for the common goal - namely, the formation of a stable and future-oriented government. The party leaders are expected to meet again next week.
Civil Servants' Salary Settlement Excluded
The statement did not mention the salary settlement for civil servants - an average 3.5 percent salary increase for public servants - which was announced unexpectedly on Tuesday. The NEOS had demanded the "clarifying conversation", which the "Standard" first reported. The coalition negotiations would not be burdened by the upset, the subgroups would continue to negotiate undisturbed, the NEOS said before the conversation, but they could not "just accept it". NEOS deputy Josef Schellhorn had previously shown himself to be "somewhat surprised, somewhat disappointed and a little angry" about the salary settlement, in which the NEOS were not involved.
(APA/Red)
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