Budget Received Green Light from Committee

After a total of six days of consultations, the deputies sent the two federal finance laws presented by the government and the medium-term federal financial framework to the plenary in a slightly adapted form, reported the parliamentary correspondence after the meeting. However, the key data of the budget drafts remain unchanged due to the adaptations.

Committee meeting began with a minute of silence

The resolutions were passed with the votes of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS, only the parliamentary budget and those parts of the federal financial framework covered by the amendment received unanimous approval. Before the final votes in the plenary, three days of plenary consultations are planned. They will start next Monday and last until Wednesday. On Monday, the deputies will also discuss the budget accompanying law and other accompanying laws to the budget.

In the Budget Committee of the National Council, another tranche of the double budget 2025/2026 was discussed and sent to the plenary on Wednesday. Specifically, it concerned the areas of housing, media, telecommunications, and sports, for which 434 million euros this year and 718 million euros next year are to be made available. At the beginning of the committee meeting, there was a minute of silence for the victims of the attack in Graz, reported the parliamentary correspondence.

The responsible Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ) answered the deputies' questions in the Budget Committee. In the areas of housing, media, telecommunications, and sports, according to the Federal Finance Act 2025 and the Federal Finance Act 2026, expenditures are expected to increase by 149.3 million euros or 52.5 percent in 2025 compared to the preliminary success of 2024, and by 284 million euros or 65.4 percent in 2026 compared to 2025. This is particularly in the context of the reallocation of responsibilities.

"My Newspaper Subscription" promoted

The issue of housing must have top priority in view of the current "housing crisis," Babler said in the committee. Further measures are necessary after the rent price cap. The Vice-Chancellor also promoted the "My Newspaper Subscription," which is intended to provide young people with free access to quality journalism and thus be a "counterweight to fake news." The federal government will, in turn, save on advertisements, Babler assured.

In view of the freezing of the ORF household levy and the associated loss of revenue, the ORF must work economically, Babler also emphasized. The payments for compensation to the ORF from the loss of the input tax deduction are expected to amount to around 90 million euros in 2025 and 2026. The organization of the Eurovision Song Contest falls under the responsibility of the public broadcaster and not his department, he also mentioned in response to a question from the FPÖ.

(APA/Red)

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