Coalition: Schedule Topic on Tuesday

On Tuesday, a team of high-ranking negotiators will discuss the further roadmap and the division of the subgroups. The party leaders Herbert Kickl and Christian Stocker are not present, according to APA information.

Teams from ÖVP and FPÖ

It is currently still open how many teams there should be for the substantive negotiations. Only the top groups, which are supposed to be led by the party leaders, are fixed. The ÖVP's group consists of Stocker, club chairman August Wöginger, Secretary General Alexander Pröll, Chamber of Commerce President (and Economic Association Chairman) Harald Mahrer, the previous State Secretary and Young ÖVP Chairwoman Claudia Plakolm, and Farmers' Association President Georg Strasser.

On the FPÖ side, the team that was already appointed to the party presidency on October 2 and was last confirmed is negotiating: It is led by Kickl, other members are the two secretaries general Michael Schnedlitz and Christian Hafenecker, club director Norbert Nemeth, foreign policy and neutrality spokeswoman Susanne Fürst, Arnold Schiefer as an economic expert, and FPÖ Lower Austria club chairman Reinhard Teufel.

Swift Coalition Negotiations?

On Tuesday, the further appointments are to be clarified and also how many subgroups there should be. The schedule is also being worked out. According to reports, the negotiations could last up to a month until a possible official announcement of a new government. An earlier agreement, perhaps already at the end of the month, is not ruled out. An official reaction from the EU Commission to the negotiators' savings plan must also still be awaited.

Further decisions, such as possible ministerial posts, could be discussed by the Freedom Party next weekend. This is when the extended party leadership traditionally meets on the eve of the FPÖ New Year's meeting in Vösendorf, Lower Austria. Not only the top representatives of the federal party are present, but also delegates from the federal states.

Special Dividend of ÖBAG Considered

Meanwhile, initial details on how a blue-black government wants to save have leaked. According to Ö1's "Mittagsjournal", a special dividend from the state holding ÖBAG is being considered, with higher payouts also planned at Asfinag and the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG). The negotiators are said to be expecting a "significant three-digit million amount". Adjustments to the valuation of pension accounts are also planned, according to ORF's "Report".

Further savings are allegedly expected by the FPÖ and ÖVP through measures in the automatic valorisation of social benefits, which is expected to bring in 150 million euros this year. The additional earnings to unemployment benefits are also to be reduced. Other likely areas to be affected by cuts, as expected, include the climate bonus, climate ticket, tax benefits for electric cars, the promotion of photovoltaic systems, and educational leave.

For the current Minister for Climate Protection, Leonore Gewessler (Greens), the rumored plans speak "a clear language". According to a statement, she fears above all a "clear-cutting in climate protection". Her party colleague, Minister of Social Affairs Johannes Rauch, spoke of "brutal plans for social cutbacks".

(APA/Red)

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