The Greens have quickly settled back into the role of opposition and are sharply criticizing the planned measures for budget consolidation. Green leader Werner Kogler spoke at a press conference on Thursday of a "wrecking ball in the social and ecological sector." Before the first National Council meeting with the new government on Friday, he criticized a series of planned savings. "There is one irrationality after another despite all constructive approaches," said Kogler.

Nevertheless, the Greens also find positive aspects in the plans of the governing parties. They welcome the planned rent freeze for old buildings as well as for municipal and cooperative housing. An extension to new buildings would also be supportable, provided a two-thirds majority is required.

Sharp Criticism of SPÖ and NEOS: "Blatant Lie and Unsocial to Boot"

Apart from that, Kogler and his team were not impressed by the further budget plans. Instead of "saving sensibly," "unintelligent cuts" are being made. Particularly problematic from the Greens' perspective is the partial abolition of cold progression. "Here, savings are being made exactly the wrong way around in the social third," criticized Kogler.

Cuts in the climate protection area also meet with massive resistance. While the Greens had expected such cuts from the ÖVP, it is incomprehensible why the SPÖ is supporting them. Kogler's criticism of the NEOS was even sharper. They had promised during the election campaign to manage without tax increases. He described the complete elimination of the climate bonus as "a blatant tax increase and a blatant untruth and lie - and unsocial to boot."

Decline in Climate Policy Progress and "Completely Wrong Signal" from the Government

To demonstrate where, in their view, meaningful savings could be made, the Greens wanted to introduce their own motion in the budget committee. This includes, among other things, the elimination of environmentally harmful subsidies, which remain untouched by the new government.

The former Minister for Climate Protection, Leonore Gewessler, warned that the budget plans would reverse climate policy progress. “In recent years, we have worked under the motto ‘Less pollution in the air, more money in the wallet’ – now exactly the opposite is happening,” she criticized.

Particularly alarming is the planned abolition of exemptions for renewable energies in the energy crisis contribution. This would massively hinder the expansion of renewable energy. The “dismantling of the Ministry of Climate Protection” is also a “completely wrong signal,” said Gewessler, who led the department for five years.

FPÖ Announcement: New Government Put to the Test

The FPÖ refrained from holding its own press conference but announced that it would put the governing parties to the test in the National Council with a series of motions. Party leader Herbert Kickl stated in a press release that the Freedom Party wanted to test the deputies with at least five resolutions on their election promises.

The motions concern, among other things, the halt of family reunification, the increase of social insurance contributions for pensioners, and changes to the chamber system. Kickl also criticized the rent price cap, which “will not make a single apartment cheaper” and is overall too short-sighted.

(APA/Red)

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