Zero Salary Round for Politicians Also in These Federal States

Styria and Vorarlberg are following with a pay freeze at the state level, Lower Austria at least for the state government. Negotiations are currently underway in Tyrol and Carinthia. Vienna has not yet made a decision; in Upper Austria, it seems to be a no, as there was already no pay freeze in 2025.

Pay freeze for politicians also in Styria and Vorarlberg

In Styria, the blue-black state government welcomed the federal government's announcement on Friday as a "step that we in Styria are of course happy to join." The valorization of politicians' salaries will also be suspended in Styria for 2026, it was stated in a press release. The measure affects the governor, his deputy, the state councilors, the state parliament presidency, the club chairmen, and the members of the state parliament. "The current budget situation requires savings in all areas to avoid burdening future generations with an unmanageable mountain of debt. We state politicians will lead by example and start saving with ourselves," said Governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ). His deputy Manuela Khom (ÖVP) added: "If services are cut and subsidies are revised, a simultaneous increase in politicians' salaries would be the completely wrong signal."

Similar sentiments came from Vorarlberg, where Governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP) described the considerations at the federal level for a pay freeze for politicians as correct. There will also be no adjustment in Vorarlberg: "We have already agreed in the coalition in Vorarlberg to implement a pay freeze for politics at the state level. Our savings efforts are very extensive, and we will lead by example," Wallner said on Friday to the APA.

Lower Austria wants pay freeze for state government

A pay freeze was also announced in Lower Austria - initially for the state government. The regulation for the state parliament members remained open for the time being. "Savings must be made in many areas to free up resources for the most important future projects of our mission 'Nobel Prize for Lower Austria,' so we are imposing a pay freeze in the state government. It's about the best future for our children," emphasized Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP). Deputy Governor Udo Landbauer (FPÖ) desires a nationwide solution as a kind of guideline for the states, but in Lower Austria, "a separate pay freeze will definitely be decided: "In economically difficult times, where more and more compatriots are financially at their limit," this is "the cleanest and most honest way." The formal decision is to be made in the state parliament in the fall.

The pay freeze for the government members in Lower Austria was also demanded on Friday by SPÖ state party leader State Councilor Sven Hergovich via a press release. The NEOS want to submit a motion in the state parliament for a complete pay freeze for 2026 - one that also includes state parliament members. Already this year, a pay freeze applied to the members of the Lower Austrian state government. The legally stipulated increase in the salaries of the members of parliament became effective in the second half of the year, with a 4.6 percent increase in July.

Pay freeze in Vienna, Carinthia, and Tyrol still open - no statement from Burgenland

In Vienna, Carinthia, and Tyrol, however, there is still no decision. This will be discussed in the government coalition at the appropriate time, according to the office of Carinthian Governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) in response to an APA inquiry on Friday. The response from Vienna City Hall was similarly vague. They stated that they would first look at the decision at the federal level. In Tyrol, the club leaders of the black-red coalition, Jakob Wolf (ÖVP) and Elisabeth Fleischanderl (SPÖ), want to hold talks with all parties in the fall, as stated to the APA. According to Wolf, these will be conducted "open-ended."

The Tyrolean NEOS, meanwhile, advocated for a zero salary round in state politics, with Member of Parliament Susanna Riedlsperger wanting to submit a corresponding motion in the state parliament. Politics must "set a good example and contribute to budget consolidation." Last year, there was a long tug-of-war over politicians' salaries in the Tyrolean state parliament, ultimately resulting in salary increases.

There was initially no statement from Burgenland on Friday.

Salzburg wants to "contribute to saving" with zero salary round

Especially in times of tight budgets, it is necessary for everyone to contribute to saving, a spokesperson for Governor Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) told the APA on Friday. The Salzburg state government is committed to this. However, the question of adjusting salaries to inflation from January 2026 does not exclusively concern the members of the state government. Therefore, this point will be thoroughly discussed in the budget talks in the fall.

At least one party in the Salzburg state parliament has clearly declared its position today: KPÖ Plus does not want to increase salaries in Salzburg either. "The state government has reduced the heating cost subsidy for needy Salzburg residents from 600 to only 250 euros. If the same standard were applied to Salzburg's politicians, their salaries would have to be reduced, not just frozen," said club chairwoman Natalie Hangöbl.

Zero salary round: Upper Austria against "self-devaluation of the political profession"

Nothing has been decided in Upper Austria either. According to the office of Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP), they will coordinate with the coalition partner FPÖ "at the appropriate time and based on legal foundations." Currently, it sounds more like there will be no zero salary round in Upper Austria in 2026, as was the case this year. In "Upper Austria, politicians' salaries have generally been five percent below the amount stipulated in the nationwide salary law for years. The Upper Austrian way means: measure and moderation instead of show and headlines. The political leaders at the state and municipal level have a special responsibility for our federal state. I will not participate in the self-devaluation of the political profession," said Stelzer.

(APA/Red)

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