"Different viewpoints and perspectives are not a weakness, but quite the opposite, the strength that defines our liberal, pluralistic democracy," praised Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) the advantages of the first three-party coalition. During the presentation of the main points of the government program, he assured the members of the Federal Chamber that the funding for the planned second mandatory kindergarten year is "secured." Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) recently announced that this should be anchored in the next federal-state agreement on kindergartens. A start of the mandatory kindergarten year for four-year-olds would thus be possible at the earliest in 2027. According to the government program, all additional funds and measures are actually subject to a general budget reservation from 2027.

Babler Promises Inclusion of Parliament in Federal Council

Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ) promised that the government would honor the parliament and also include the opposition factions. He praised the government program as a "printed Austrian virtue, a great compromise of constructive forces." State Secretary Josef Schellhorn (NEOS), who represented Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger due to her trip to Ukraine, emphasized that the coming years would not be easy. This "honesty paired with the right boost of optimism" is what people deserve. The State Secretary for Deregulation expressed confidence that it would be possible to relieve people through debureaucratization.

Government Statement in Federal Council: Haslauer for "New Deal for Austria"

Before the government statement, Salzburg Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) had already advocated for a "New Deal for Austria" in a speech in the Federal Council in view of the major transformation processes on geopolitical, social, economic, and political levels. As chairman of the Conference of Provincial Governors, he offered the federal government "a reform partnership between the federal and state governments" to achieve improvements together and also to discuss the redistribution of tasks anew. At the beginning of the session, four new federal councilors were sworn in. For the new Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ), the previous Vienna municipal councilor Martina Ludwig-Faymann moved up. Also new in the Federal Chamber are the Burgenland federal councilors - Mario Trinkl, Thomas Schmid (both SPÖ), and Thomas Karacsony (FPÖ).

(APA/Red)

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