Climate Goals: Greens Target SPÖ

Before the discussion of the new weapons law in the National Council, the FPÖ once again warned against the measure, seeing it as an "attack on law-abiding citizens." The Greens announced their approval of the amendment. They also want to use the plenary session to criticize the federal government's "delaying tactics" regarding the EU climate targets.

Meanwhile, the NEOS promoted the pink signature in government work ahead of tomorrow's plenary. The postponement of the decision on the EU climate targets, among other things at Austria's request, is a "disgrace for Austria also on an international level," criticized Green Party leader Leonore Gewessler at a press conference on Tuesday. By having the topic now addressed at the EU summit in October by the heads of state and government, they have "deliberately accepted that Viktor Orban can blackmail us with the climate targets" due to the unanimity principle there. While the "trickery behind the scenes" by her former coalition partner ÖVP does not surprise her, Gewessler said, it is a "new quality" that the SPÖ is participating. Therefore, they demand clarification from Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ) as to why they are giving the ÖVP free rein to "sabotage" the climate targets in Brussels.

"Security cannot be achieved through distrust of one's own citizens," criticized FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafenecker at a press conference regarding the planned changes to the weapons law in response to the rampage at a school in Graz. The FPÖ sees the real problem in the possession of illegal weapons, against which even stricter weapons laws cannot do anything, as well as in the lack of networking between the military's recruitment commission and civilian authorities.

Greens Want to Approve Weapons Law

Like the FPÖ, Green Party leader Leonore Gewessler accused the federal government of inaction with regard to the agenda of the National Council meeting. She wishes that they would "move from announcement mode to work mode." However, she positively assessed the planned tightening of the weapons law. In the plenary, the Greens will approve the draft law, unlike in the interior committee. The pressure from the Greens has worked, said Deputy Club Chairwoman Alma Zadic. Nevertheless, the tightening does not go far enough for the Greens, which is why they announced corresponding motions at the plenary session. Specifically, improvements are demanded in regulations for the safe storage of weapons, data collection, a buyback program for weapons, and regular checks through psychological tests for all gun owners.

Brandstötter Praises ORF Law Amendment

The NEOS were full of praise for their own government policy. In addition to the education sector, which Deputy Club Chairwoman and Education Spokeswoman Martina von Künsberg Sarre described as "drilling through hard boards," Media Spokeswoman Henrike Brandstötter praised the ORF law amendment to be passed in the National Council the following day. With this, the "absolutely outdated and absurd" right of the provincial governors to be heard in the appointment of ORF regional directors is "a thing of the past once and for all."

Also, the fact that companies with multiple locations no longer have to pay the ORF household fee multiple times has been put on track, said Brandstötter. The old system did not really serve its purpose and penalized companies with multiple locations. This has relieved 20,000 - mostly - small businesses by around ten million euros per year. And households with low incomes have also been "considered," as the household fee no longer has to be paid all at once with a payment slip for the entire year. The NEOS are concerned with an "independent and strong ORF" in a pluralistic media location, emphasized the pink media spokeswoman.

Education is also, of course, a concern for the NEOS. "This is a very important issue for us and for society," emphasized Künsberg Sarre. Therefore, the current hour is also dedicated to this area. With the pink Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr, "a lot has already been achieved." Under the motto "reform instead of repair," a "catch-up race" has been started. However, the education sector is neither a "sprint nor a marathon, but an Ironman." They will work through the approximately 80 projects anchored in the government program "step by step to make up for the failures of the past."

(APA/Red)

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