SPÖ Leader Babler Announces Continuation of Rent Price Cap in ORF Summer Talk
The increase in rents in the regulated sector next year will be a maximum of one percent, and for the year 2027, a maximum limit of two percent is planned, SPÖ leader Andreas Babler assured in the ORF summer talk.
SPÖ Leader Babler Insists on More Money for Social Housing
The privately financed housing sector is also included, where in the future, with an inflation rate of over three percent, the part of the inflation exceeding this value can only be passed on by half. This package is to be decided in the fall, as it is intended to come into effect at the beginning of the coming year. With the price intervention for inflation over three percent, which is also to apply to regulated rents from 2028, it is guaranteed that "high inflation" will never again trigger a price explosion in the rental sector, explained Vice Chancellor Babler.
Once again, the SPÖ leader insisted that money is needed for social housing to provide more space. The levers that could be adjusted are land zoning, the earmarking of housing subsidies, and housing investment banks.
SPÖ Leader Babler Also Wants Interventions in Energy and Food Prices
In addition to rents, Babler also wants to address energy costs to counteract inflation. How to proceed further in this area was left open by the SPÖ chairman. However, the Vice Chancellor assured that the government would present a model that would relieve both private households and industry.
The SPÖ leader expressed outrage that in the food sector, international corporations impose an "Austria surcharge" because free competition is being undermined. Babler believes that intervention here should be the responsibility of the EU. He has already contacted the Commission regarding this matter.
SPÖ Leader Babler Will Respond Nationally to "Austria Surcharge" if Necessary
However, if Brussels does not act, the SPÖ chairman announced that they would respond nationally. As an example, he mentioned the price commission proposed by the ÖGB, which could obligate companies to lower prices for specific purposes. They could also intervene legally.
Babler made it clear that the SPÖ is, for him, a guarantor of representing workers' rights. Therefore, despite the "huge budget disaster," they took on the responsibility in the government to "creatively implement the fight against inflation." Because, as Babler stated: "Without the SPÖ in the country, people would still be working 60 hours a week and have a six-day workweek."
The SPÖ supports the suspension of family reunification for refugees, even though Babler has "no particular joy" in targeting families. However, this point was very important to the ÖVP.
Up to 506,000 Viewers for ORF Summer Talk with SPÖ Leader Babler
Up to 506,000 viewers watched the ORF summer talk with Klaus Webhofer and SPÖ leader Andreas Babler. On average, 456,000 (preliminary weighting) were tuned in with a market share of 20 percent on ORF 2. The analysis in "ZIB 2" attracted up to 576,000 politically interested viewers. The next "Summer Talk" will be conducted by Webhofer on Monday, September 1st, at 9:00 PM on ORF 2 and ORF ON with ÖVP leader Christian Stocker.
(APA/Red)
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