Government Program: Social Partners and NGOs with Mixed Reactions

The government program of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS meets with a mixed response from the social partners. Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) reacted mostly positively to the program presented on Thursday. Trade Union Federation President Wolfgang Katzian (SPÖ) sees an important "step in the right direction" made. The Chamber of Labor (AK) is cautious but recognizes "light and shadow" in the program presented on Thursday.

"Step in the Right Direction", "Light and Shadow"

"There are incentives for high performers, more freedom for entrepreneurship, and relief with prudence," said Renate Scheichelbauer-Schuster, chairwoman of the trade and crafts division in the WKÖ, for example. The Young Economy and tourism representatives of the WKÖ also praised the program. The bank levy was viewed critically.

On the union side, the red ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian sees an important "step in the right direction" made. "The planned economic stimulus package will create jobs, providing the security that employees and companies need now," he says in a statement from the Trade Union Federation.

The Chamber of Labor is more cautious. The announcements regarding the "bank levy and the extension of the windfall tax for energy suppliers" are viewed positively. AK experts will analyze the approximately 200-page document in the coming days. AK President Renate Anderl again advocated for a millionaire's tax, which is not provided for in the government plan.

The production union (PRO-GE) also welcomes the agreement reached and highlighted the fight against inflation. The GPA union is pleased about more money for the Public Employment Service AMS. "The fight against unemployment must be a focus of politics in the coming years. The government program is encouraging in this regard," said GPA Chairwoman Barbara Teiber.

"This economic program is a clear signal for the small and medium-sized enterprises in our country," rejoices the Secretary-General of the ÖVP Economic Association, Kurt Egger, in a statement. With the government program, "high performers are relieved."

"Positive Trends" and "Bitter Pills" Identified

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) sees "initial positive trends." "Unfortunately, the measures in the areas of energy and ancillary wage costs remain vague so far. Further specification will be needed in the course," said IV President Georg Knill.

For Retail Association Managing Director Rainer Will, the document reads "promising." Will hopes for a rapid implementation of the plans. "A bitter pill is the long dry spell until 2027 for ancillary wage costs due to lack of budgetary leeway." According to the program, these should be reduced by the middle of the government period.

"Many items, little change," summarizes Agenda Austria Director Franz Schellhorn, the program with little praise. The economist is the brother of the future State Secretary for Deregulation, Josef Schellhorn (NEOS). "The SPÖ generously refrains from new taxes, in return, ÖVP and NEOS spare the bloated state apparatus from long-overdue cuts. A deal that plays into the parties' hands but does not help the country," judges the director of the economically liberal think tank.

Appeals and Criticism Following Presentation of Government Program

After the presentation of the government program by ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS, various organizations have addressed the future federal government with criticism and appeals. Especially in the area of care and support, organizations like Volkshilfe and the Samaritan Association are demanding clarity and future viability. Caritas identifies uncertainties in the financing of the coalition's plans.

Caritas Secretary General Anna Parr expressed "relief" over the formation of the federal government in a statement. In the area of care and support, there is a fundamental understanding of the challenges; there are also positive signals in the areas of poverty reduction, migration and integration, and international cooperation. "Currently, it remains open how the long-term financing of all these measures will be ensured," said Parr. The suspension of family reunification was criticized by the Vienna Caritas Director Klaus Schwertner. "Family reunifications have a proven integration-promoting effect," explained Schwertner. From his perspective, this plan is hardly feasible legally.

Erich Fenninger, Director of Volkshilfe, also expressed his pleasure in a statement about the formation of the government and the agreement on a basic child security. In the area of care and support, more details and the involvement of all relevant stakeholders are needed, demanded Fenninger. It also remains to be seen whether there will be improvements in changes to social assistance, vulnerable groups must "not fall by the wayside," explained Fenninger.

With an "urgent appeal," Samaritan Association Federal Managing Director Reinhard Hundsmüller addressed the future government in a statement. "Austria can no longer afford stagnation," he said. A government is needed that tackles pressing issues. Austria must be made future-proof, for example, through the development of care, strengthening of disaster relief, and an expansion of powers in the rescue services.

The Austrian Health and Nursing Association (ÖGKV) appealed in a statement to quickly implement the formulated measures. "Care and the entire health system are facing major challenges," said ÖGKV President Elisabeth Potzmann.

Christoph Pinter, head of the UN Refugee Agency, views the temporary halt to family reunification critically: "The constant worry about children, mother, or father makes it much harder to focus on learning German or finding a job." The strengthening of integration measures for refugees must not be diluted by restrictions in other areas, said Pinter. "Placing human rights at the center of politics" was demanded by Shoura Hashemi, Managing Director of Amnesty International Austria in a statement. The suspension of family reunification is viewed very critically, as it violates human rights.

Senior Council Criticizes

The presidents of the Senior Council, Peter Kostelka and Ingrid Korosec, described the planned health insurance contribution increases for pensioners as "unsocial" in a statement. The increase of nearly 20 percent is a "strong piece."

SOS Children's Villages Managing Director, Christian Moser, positively assessed the government's "extensive measures" to curb child poverty. He was less pleased with the education sector: "A progressive child rights approach is largely missing here," said Moser.

The Council of Carinthian Slovenes welcomed the mention of the autochthonous minorities in Austria in a statement. Although brief, the implementation of promises, especially in the education sector where the minority has suffered the most damage in the past, is particularly important.

Municipal Association President Johannes Pressl welcomed the formation of the coalition. "On the part of the municipalities, we are ready for urgently needed reform projects in our country," explained Pressl. Once the ministries are filled, the Municipal Association will seek dialogue with the members of the federal government. Many municipalities are financially backed into a corner, Pressl reminded.

Freude bei Haus der Geschichte

Das "Kunst und Kultur"-Kapitel des Regierungsprogramms ist am Donnerstagnachmittag im Haus der Geschichte Österreich (hdgö), das künftig als eigenständiges Bundesmuseum geführt werden soll, mit Genugtuung aufgenommen worden. "Ich freue mich, dass für die neue Bundesregierung die Zukunft des Hauses der Geschichte Österreich und die künftige Gestaltung des Heldenplatzes wichtige Themen sind", ließ hdgö-Direktorin Monika Sommer auf APA-Nachfrage wissen.

Sommer hat auch schon eine konkrete Idee: "Die Zweite Republik sollte sich zu ihrem heurigen 80. Geburtstag ein weithin sichtbares und dauerhaftes Symbol der liberalen Demokratie am 'Hitler-Balkon' schenken. Denn der bisherige Umgang mit diesem symbolisch hochsensiblen Ort der österreichischen Zeitgeschichte ist mehr als unzeitgemäß. Wir haben hier die Initiative ergriffen und sind schon einen Schritt vorausgegangen: Ab 22. April präsentieren wir im Haus der Geschichte Österreich künstlerische Vorschläge dazu."

Geradezu euphorische Reaktionen kamen von der IG Autorinnen Autoren. Auch wenn Budget und Personal noch offen seien, "ist es doch das ambitionierteste Kunst- und Kulturprogramm einer Regierung seit vielen Jahren", so Geschäftsführer Gerhard Ruiss via Aussendung. "Ganz besonders Anlass zur Freude und Zuversicht gibt, dass sich das Programm dieser Regierung auf und an die Seite der Kunst und Kultur stellt."

Unterschiedlich fielen die Reaktionen aus dem Medienbereich aus. "Äußerst herausfordernd" werden die kommenden Jahre aus Sicht von ORF-Generaldirektor Roland Weißmann. Die Finanzierung des öffentlich-rechtlichen Senders sei zwar weiterhin abgesichert, allerdings werde der ORF-Beitrag nicht valorisiert. Somit komme auf den ORF "ein weiteres sehr hartes Sparpaket zu", hieß es in einem Statement. Gleichzeitig müsse es das Ziel bleiben, die Allianz mit dem Publikum weiter auszubauen, "damit der ORF auch in Zukunft das Medienangebot bleibt, dem Österreich am meisten vertraut". Welche Maßnahmen aufgrund des Einfrierens des ORF-Beitrags notwendig werden, sei noch auszuarbeiten, hielt Weißmann in einer Mitarbeiterinformation fest. Erste Eckpunkte hofft man rund um den Stiftungsrat Mitte März skizzieren zu können.

Geplante Medienvorhaben "sehr positiv"

Als "sehr positiv" bezeichnete wiederum der Verband Österreichischer Zeitungen (VÖZ) die geplanten Medienvorhaben in einer Aussendung. Man begrüße "insbesondere das klare Bekenntnis zum Ausbau der Medienförderung", wurde VÖZ-Präsident Maximilian Dasch zitiert. "Dies unterstützt österreichische Medien bei der nachhaltigen Entwicklung ihrer digitalen Engagements und sichert zudem die flächendeckende Zustellung von Zeitungen und Magazinen ab." Außerdem wurde das Bemühen um mehr Medienkompetenz junger Menschen hervorgehoben. Nachvollziehbar, aber schmerzhaft sei hingegen die angekündigte Reduktion der Werbeausgaben.

Abwartend zeigte sich die IG Freie Theaterarbeit, die von der künftigen Regierung fordert, die Budgets für die freie Szene - vergleichbar mit den Budgets für Bundeskultureinrichtungen - legistisch abzusichern. "Sollte es zu Kürzungen bei Kunst und Kultur kommen, wird dies vor allem die freie Szene treffen", da diese nicht durch Indexanpassungen abgesichert sei, wie es in einer Aussendung heißt. "Budgetkürzungen in diesem oft prekär arbeitenden Bereich können nicht akzeptiert werden, die neuen Verantwortlichen müssen sich für die finanzielle Absicherung des freien Kunst- und Kulturschaffens und aller dort arbeitenden Menschen einsetzen!"

"Das Programm zeigt, dass sich die Koalitionspartner der Herausforderungen, mit denen im Kulturbereich Tätige tagtäglich konfrontiert sind, durchwegs bewusst sind," zeigte sich Yvonne Gimpel, Geschäftsführerin der IG Kultur Österreich, erfreut. Weniger begeistert ist die IG Kultur jedoch über das "fehlende Bekenntnis zur finanziellen Absicherung freier Kunst und Kultur, während etwa die mehrjährige Wertsicherung der Bundeseinrichtungen verankert ist". Viele der gelisteten Vorhaben stünden unter einem impliziten Budgetvorbehalt.

(APA/Red)

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