Government Retreat - Stocker: "Times Will Remain Difficult in the Coming Years"

On Wednesday, the federal government made efforts to spread optimism despite the difficult economic situation and urged patience. "The times will remain difficult in the coming years as well," said Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) at the conclusion of the government retreat on Wednesday. Despite the tight budget resources, the package of measures adopted by the Council of Ministers succeeded in finding creative new approaches to combating inflation and stimulating the economy.

Stocker defended against criticism

The one billion euros announced as an investment impulse will be effective, whether funds are reallocated for it or it was already budgeted, Stocker defended against criticism of the package of measures presented the previous day. He pointed to the government's limited room for maneuver in light of the need for consolidation. They have done what was possible and taken new paths, for example by planning to legally anchor a public interest within the framework of the Electricity Industry Act (ElWG). Energy suppliers could thus offer electricity below the market price.

The Chancellor also urged patience regarding the impact of the adopted measures. To think that everything will happen overnight is a "misconception." It will be possible to bring Austria forward again, "but I ask for understanding that it may only be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." With the government retreat, the foundation for the upswing has been laid, said the Chancellor, who once again called on everyone to contribute to it.

SPÖ leader and Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler also spoke of "creative and cost-neutral solutions." Nevertheless, it was possible to initiate measures "where politics intervenes" and thus fulfills its responsibility. The measures would be effective in reducing the cost of living for people, he expressed confidently. NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger prepared the population for "also unpleasant measures" that are necessary to make life affordable again and to bring Austria from the bottom of the European competitiveness rankings back to the forefront. The common goal is a two percent inflation rate in the coming year, she emphasized.

Stocker Will Intensively Address Combating Austria Surcharge

The Chancellor intends to intensively address the combating of the so-called Austria surcharge in the food trade in the coming weeks. He plans to discuss this with EU Council President Antonio Costa during his visit to Vienna on Wednesday. If there is no European solution, the government will also consider national approaches. However, setting "a deadline" here is not sensible, Stocker said in response to a related question.

In the government retreat, the three-party coalition, which has been in office for six months as of Wednesday, also set its program for the next six months. A specific timeline was not presented. SPÖ leader Babler referred, among other things, to the planned rental package, the federal prosecutor's office, child basic security, the industrial strategy, improvements in appointment scheduling in the health sector, and measures against political extremism. NEOS leader Meinl-Reisinger mentioned, among other things, German language promotion in education as well as deregulation and debureaucratization as focal points. Stocker named the mandatory integration year as part of the autumn program, alongside the implementation of the announced economic measures.

FPÖ Criticizes

Criticism of the results of the government retreat came on Wednesday from the FPÖ, which referred to it as a "show retreat." The measures "of the supposed billion-euro economic package" are mostly already budgeted "and also completely unsuitable," said Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz in a statement.

(APA/Red)

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