Shortly after the presentation of the turquoise-green measures against inflation, they were debated at a current time in the National Council. Sometimes there was recognition from the opposition – but above all criticism.
Things move quickly in politics sometimes, albeit by a remarkable coincidence: just an hour after the chancellor, vice chancellor, finance and social affairs ministers presented their cost-of-living package at the chancellery, it was being debated by a few hundred people. meters away at the National Council. The reason for this was a current hour requested by the Neos and addressed to the Minister of Finance, which included, of all things, the demand to abolish cold progression. This was demanded even before it became clear that this would be promised by the government that very day.
And while Turquoise and Green praised the package as expected, there was also some praise from the opposition: “I really appreciate what’s going on here,” said Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger, “this is nothing.” Addendum: But it’s not enough. The neos would have preferred a complete automatic abolition rather than the automated reimbursement of two-thirds of the cold progression. Furthermore, relief comes “too late”, abolition should have happened retrospectively.
Kickl wants a “kickback package”
The other factions weren’t as friendly as the Neos – but Kai Jan Krainer, not exactly known for the government’s praise of the SPÖ financial spokesperson, didn’t just react with criticism: “Some things,” Red said, “is Good”. But the package has yet to cut a single price, he said, and employees and pensioners would mostly pay for it. Krainer again demanded that the profits of the energy companies also be reduced.
Herbert Kickl, however, didn’t find anything good this time either: he would have liked a “waiver package” as a relief measure rather than the government’s “money-back package”, the Liberal leader joked. Once again, Kickl criticized Russia’s sanctions and European monetary policy.
Special session likely needed
The response of Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP): He sees that the criticism is the work of the opposition, but he said in terms of cold progression: “Now we are going to present, now we just have to vote”. in fact it is not necessary, the voices of the ÖVP and the Greens are enough. However, a special session of the National Council is likely to be needed next week so that everything can be put on track in good time. It will likely take place on Thursday, and the first announcements should be made by the commission at the beginning of the week. Neos deputy Gerald Loacker criticizes the hasty preparation of the package: “Ministry officials will know at the press conference what they should write in the law,” he suspects.
Reactions outside the Chamber were also partially mixed. ÖGB boss Wolfgang Katzian, for example, considers the package “questionable in terms of distribution policy”, especially as the immediate measures “consist almost exclusively of one-off payments”. “We welcome the fact that the pressure we’ve built up for relief measures has finally pushed the federal government to act,” he said. “Some points were successful, but overall the package also has disadvantages at first sight,” said Katzian. He still wants VAT reductions and a rent ceiling – and higher taxation of “surplus profits” from energy companies, which the SPÖ is also calling for. The Chamber of Commerce, on the other hand, is satisfied: essential demands to alleviate businesses and households are now being implemented, according to the head of the chamber Harald Mahrer “the government is taking the right measures before the summer, which will have an effect on the short and mid-term”.