Budget Dispute in the National Council Over Plans for Education, Climate, and Women

With the social chapter, a rather unspectacular second plenary day of the budget week concluded on Tuesday evening. After the 18-hour marathon of the previous day, the debate was largely factual and without major excitement. The Greens, however, saw setbacks across the topics compared to the previous budget they co-managed. The FPÖ, on the other hand, disliked virtually everything the three-party coalition plans. The budget will be decided on Wednesday.

In the social sector, both the Freedom Party and the Greens criticized cuts, especially in the disability sector. According to the opposition parties, there are also too few funds available for the labor market. "The unemployed deserve better," said Green social spokesperson Markus Koza. The Freedom Party's social spokesperson Dagmar Belakowitsch feared that the valorization of care allowance could lead to more difficult access to higher care levels.

Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) emphasized the "incredible challenge" the government faces budget-wise: "We need this path to get Austria back on track." Nevertheless, it has been managed to ensure that social safety nets are not severed. Schumann pointed out, for example, that partial retirement (in a reduced form) is maintained and partial pensions are introduced. SP social spokesperson Josef Muchitsch stressed that there will be no cuts in pensions. Care workers will even be granted access to the heavy labor regulation.

NEOS social spokesperson Johannes Gasser, on the other hand, emphasized that the first steps towards generational justice are being taken in the pension sector. However, he believes that the measures initiated will not be sufficient and relies on the planned sustainability mode, which could also enable an increase in the retirement age. VP member Michael Hammer emphasized that reductions are made where there have been overburdens or inefficiencies - for example, in additional earnings to unemployment benefits. On the other hand, investments are also made, for example, through the promotion of an employee bonus.

Budget for women will only slightly increase in 2026

Women's and Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) initially emphasized that she could think of "incredibly much" that is needed within the budget framework. However, the government has committed to closing the budget gap. The budget for women remains the same this year compared to the previous year at 33.6 million euros, with an increase to 34.1 million planned for 2026. For science, the budget draft foresees just under 7.3 billion euros in 2025 and just over 7.3 billion in 2026.

Feminist accents are set, for example, through VAT-free menstrual and contraceptive products. However, Holzleitner regretted that due to the urgency of the double budget, gender budgeting could not be considered everywhere. The budget provides security for the science and research landscape, and the valorization of student grants is also secured. Both at universities and universities of applied sciences, the amounts will increase, said Martina Künsberg Sarre (NEOS). ÖVP women's spokesperson Juliane Bogner-Strauß emphasized the securing of funding for girls' and women's counseling centers as well as violence clinics.

FPÖ and Greens see women disadvantaged

"If you were in opposition, you would not approve this budget, and we will not do so either," said FPÖ women's spokesperson Rosa Ecker towards the Women's Minister. Since women earn less, the government's "burden package" affects them more than men. In the area of science and research, Martin Graf (FPÖ) missed impulses.

Existing inequalities would be cemented, said the Green women's spokesperson Meri Disoski. The fact that the budget remains the same this year compared to the previous year means, when adjusted for inflation, fewer funds for women's policy. Sigrid Maurer (Green) praised the goal of a research quota - that is, a share of expenditures in the research and development sector as a percentage of the gross domestic product - of four percent, but the budgeted figures would not be sufficient for this.

Criticism of Funds for the Education Sector

There was also criticism from the Greens regarding the education budget of the responsible minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS). Maurer criticized, for example, that the planned expansion of school psychological staff was insufficient in light of the Graz rampage. There would still be "far too little support staff." Her club colleague Barbara Neßler doubted that the necessary additional places would be created in early childhood education.

The Freedom Party's education spokesperson Hermann Brückl sees it differently. He is bothered that a mandatory second kindergarten year is coming for everyone and not just for those who need it. Additionally, he rejected the fact that three-quarters of the training places are academicized for cost reasons. Brückl misses investments for students even without low German language skills. Money is only spent on German support classes, orientation classes, and summer schools.

SPÖ representative Heinrich Himmer countered that every child must be equally valuable. He saw the planned free newspaper subscription for young people as progress in terms of democracy education. ÖVP General Secretary Nico Marchetti appreciated that investments are being made in German language support. That this is necessary has now become mainstream opinion. Wiederkehr saw the increase in his department as a clear commitment to education. This area in particular shows that the government is not only consolidating but also investing in the future. Twelve billion are budgeted for the education sector this year, and it will be 12.5 billion next year. In 2024, the budget was still around 11.6 billion.

End of Climate Bonus Leads to Savings in Climate Budget

The discussion then continued with the topic of environment, climate, and agriculture. Department head Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) rejected the accusations from FPÖ agriculture spokesperson Peter Schmiedlechner that cuts were being made to farmers. However, savings would indeed be made in administration, said the minister. The budget for agriculture and forestry decreases this year by 172 million to 2.8 billion euros, and that for climate protection even by 2.7 billion to 2.2 billion euros. In 2026, the climate budget will shrink significantly again to 1.4 billion.

SPÖ climate spokesperson Julia Herr emphasized that the biggest savings in the climate budget in 2025 are due to the elimination of the climate bonus. People should be motivated and not deterred with bans and renunciations, said Totschnig regarding his understanding of climate and environmental protection. He emphasized that subsidies like the repair bonus or "Get out of oil and gas" would continue. The climate bonus, which was supposed to cushion the CO2 pricing, had not brought any significant climate effects, said the environment minister.

Former climate protection and environment minister Leonore Gewessler (Green) reacted with dissatisfaction. The government is shifting into reverse, climate-damaging subsidies like the diesel privilege remain untouched, while the climate bonus is being eliminated. There is still potential for savings in administration, said Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS). They are open to proposals on transparency issues, she said in the direction of Green MP Olga Voglauer, who had complained about a lack of transparency regarding where pesticides and "forever chemicals" are used.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.