Double Budget for 2025/2026 Approved

According to the forecast, this year there will be a national deficit of 4.5 percent of GDP, and 4.2 percent in the coming year. This will likely lead to an EU deficit procedure, as Austria does not meet the three percent requirement.

EU Deficit Procedure Against Austria

FPÖ representative Barbara Kolm predicted worse ratings for Austria because of this. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ), on the other hand, emphasized in his speech during the final finance chapter that the EU Maastricht target would be reached again by 2028. The presented budget draft shows a consistent, serious, comprehensible, and sustainable budget policy. Just as the coalition has worked together in the first months, he is confident that the consolidation will succeed.

Before the finances, the representatives discussed the chapters on integration and family, mobility, and national defense. In the first debate, the suspension of the valorization of family benefits was the most polarizing issue.

Family Budget Causes Heated Debate

"Today is a bitter day for Austria's families," said FP representative Ricarda Berger. She described the non-valorization of family benefits as a "silent, but above all cold cut." The FPÖ spreads "a lot of misinformation" and stirs up uncertainty, criticized ÖVP representative Johanna Jachs. The family sector will even be equipped with more money, with the budget increasing by around 3 percent in both 2025 and 2026. Austria remains the "European champion" in family benefits, emphasized Family Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP).

The lack of valorization of family benefits affects the group of single parents the most, criticized the Green representative Barbara Neßler. "This is stupid cutting instead of sensible saving." The SPÖ representative Bernhard Herzog advocated for "looking at the big picture." Despite budgetary pressures, the government supports families in various ways, he pointed out, including the expansion of early childhood education, increased German language support, healthy snacks, and the strengthening of psychosocial care for children and adolescents. The NEOS representative Gertraud Auinger-Oberzaucher opposed a "watering can policy" for families.

The defense budget was also a controversial issue. "Your development plan is being torpedoed by the left coalition partner," said the blue defense spokesperson Volker Reifenberger to Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) with a view to the SPÖ-occupied Ministry of Finance, "and you are putting on a brave face." Despite all acquisitions, the core of the problem - namely personnel - is not being addressed, criticized the Green defense spokesperson David Stögmüller, pointing to accommodations in poor condition.

Tanner appealed to the representatives to focus on the common concern of supporting the armed forces. "We can continue the development plan with this budget," emphasized Tanner. National defense is a societal challenge, said SPÖ representative Robert Laimer, while NEOS Secretary General Douglas Hoyos advocated for European cooperation. "No matter how much money we invest, as a small republic we are not able to prepare for all dangers," said Hoyos.

Greens criticize more expensive climate ticket

In the debate on mobility, former Infrastructure Minister and future Green leader Leonore Gewessler was annoyed that the climate ticket would be significantly more expensive, while climate-damaging subsidies like the diesel privilege would continue. Her faction colleague Lukas Hammer criticized that cuts were being made in the expansion and modernization of public transport. FP transport spokesperson Gerhard Deimek expressed concern about the future of regional railways and applied for their preservation.

From the NEOS side, representative Dominik Oberhofer countered that public transport also needs to be rethought. Sometimes a bus works better than rail in regional transport. Therefore, e-buses are also being financially supported. Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) assured that the mobility transition is continuing. One can be assured that tens of thousands of jobs remain secure. The ÖVP also emphasized, through Joachim Schnabel, that once again an increase in the mobility budget is being achieved.

(APA/Red)

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