Big goals, nothing concrete yet – diepresse.com

A few weeks after its start, the Federal Government is already before its first crisis – and its extent was not expected. Because the literally exploded budget deficit is not only the responsibility of the federal government, but also goes back to countries, communities and social security, the turquoise-red-pink coalition wants to get help with consolidation.

Because the finances of the countries also developed worse than expected, the only federal state with a positive budget balance last year was Upper Austria. Vienna alone posted a minus of 1.67 billion euros-the turquoise-green predecessor government still calculated with balanced country households.

Nevertheless, most governors organized the federal government days ago that they couldn’t get anything with them. On the contrary: more money is more necessary. In order to discuss all this in detail, Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) invited a top-class round to the Chancellery on Wednesday afternoon: In addition to Stocker, Vice Chancellor Andreas Backer (SPÖ), Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (Neos), Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) and State Secretary Barbara Eibinger-Miedl (ÖVP)-and top representative of countries and Communities. Salzburg’s governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP), currently Chairman of the Governor’s Conference, also came, Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) took part for the city association, for which President Johannes Pressl (ÖVP) traveled.

Far from the finish

The result of the whole? The meeting in the Chancellery was once a first exchange, explained Stocker. Now further meetings with representatives of the Governor Conference, Cities and Community Association are to follow, said the Chancellor, and health insurance companies and social partners are also to be at the table.

The big questions that have to be clarified according to Stocker: « How do we make it under three percent deficit? And when we are doing this until when? » In view of the bad numbers, a “overall exertion” is necessary to get the deficit in the long term to one or two percent. With significantly more than four percent overall deficit, you are currently miles away for miles. In the medium term, Stocker also strives for structural reforms, he says, for example in the energy sector. « It’s a big project and it starts today, » said the Chancellor.

No details yet

However, none of those involved was able to say what exactly started there. BABLER once again explained that the current deficit crisis is « a total state challenge that affects us all »-that was also said Meinl-Reisinger and Eibinger-Miedl. Marterbauer again signaled confidence, after all, an even greater deficit was got under control in the banking crisis.

Haslauer was much more compromising than most of his colleagues recently: « There is also an opportunity in every crisis to make promising decisions, » said the governor, who will be handed over this year. In his view, the federal states are « willing to reform and willing to reform ». Ludwig and Pressl commented similarly. One is ready to talk about savings – for example through reduction in bureaucracy, said Ludwig; as long as the conversations are held at eye level.

Cancellation to municipal boss

The only concrete proposal that had been added to the existing savings package in the past few days has already been dismissed. Community Association of Pressl spoke via “Press” to talk about the introduction of new deductible for consolidation, also in the field of childcare. At the Council of Ministers, Education Minister Christoph Return (NEOS) said that new deductibles are currently “not an issue”.