« Everyone will feel the budget renovation » – Diepresse.com

« I would have liked to present a budget today that includes extensive investments in business location and research, climate and nature conservation, care and health, training and qualification, labor market and poverty prevention or internal and external security. In short: a budget that drives up and just financed the economic, social and ecological progress with large episodes. » Finance Minister Markus began with these words Marterbauer (SPÖ) On Tuesday at 10:09 a.m. his first budget speech in the Hohen Haus.

But the circumstances are not the case, he immediately admitted: « We first have to put the state finances in order. And that is a hard way. We will not renovate the budget from a joke and rabbit. » The budget is being renovated for two reasons: « Firstly, we want to avoid high interest payments and the dependence on the financial markets. Second, we want to create scope for advanced investments. » He prefers to invest the money in education, health and climate protection, « to pay billions of times for interest ». With the double budget 2025 and 2026, the federal government was « a big step », said Marterbauer, and « a worrying state of the Austrian state budget ».

Specifically: In 2024, the deficit of the overall state has 22.5 billion euros or 4.7 percent of the GDP be. « Without renovation measures, the deficit for this year would have increased to more than 28.6 billion euros or 5.8 percent of GDP »; said Marterbauer. However: « The budget deficit and the government debt, which already achieved 81.8 percent of economic output in 2024, threaten not only in 2025, but also in the following years. » Sooner or later this could affect the economic stability of the country and make us vulnerable.

6.4 billion euros savings 2025

In fact, real economic output is threatening the third year in a row. The number of unemployed is around 50,000 higher than two years ago. « These developments tighten social inequality and worsen the quality of the business location, » said the finance minister. The result: uncertainty. According to the coalition of the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS « A mix of regulations », which should result in a volume of 6.4 billion euros and in 2026 of EUR 8.7 billion in the current year.

On the revenue side, it is planned to create a volume of almost two and 2026 of more than three billion euros in 2025. This is to be made possible by the premature abolition of the sales tax exemption of photovoltaic systems and the increase in consumption tax to tobacco. A number of federal fees are increased, as are gambling levies. In addition, measures are taken to push back the illegal gambling. Large real estate transactions by means of Share Deals – i.e. transactions of real estate parked in corporations – are taxed higher. « In 2026, the extension of the top tax rate for annual income of more than one million euros will be just as effective as the suspension of the third third of the compensation for the cold progression, » said Marterbauer. The government hopes that « 2026 a consolidation contribution of almost 500 million euros ». Foundation taxation is reformed by raising the tax rate to 3.5 percent, intermediate tax to 27.5 percent and the foundation input tax equivalent as part of the real estate transfer tax.

« Eine of the largest consolidation packages of the past decades »

On the output side, Marterbauer expects « immediately the greatest savings » by the abolition of the climate monus. The bonus was « a politically, economically and socially useful compensation for the introduction of the CO2 prize ». « But he suffered from a number of shortcomings, » argued the minister. Finally, « about twice as many funds were paid out ». And that « just doesn’t work financially ». To compensate, the government increases the commutereuro from two to six euros per kilometer and the negative tax surcharge for commuters; We « keep the climate kit despite high costs ». The free climate for 18-year-olds, on the other hand, “no longer want to afford” the coalition. From the realignment of the educational leave, it hopes for « around 650 million euros » in 2026. After all, social benefits such as family allowance or the child deduction are « not shortened, but in 2026 and 2027 they will not be increased ». That should bring almost 200 million euros in the next and 400 million euros in the year after next.

« This is one of the largest consolidation packages that has been laced in this country in recent decades, » emphasized Marterbauer. But: The government does not want to stop on « short-term measures on the revenue and output side of the budget », but at the same time begin « with structural reforms ». In eight steps:

1. Redimation of funding: Framework conditions for gas exit, soil protection and decarbonization in the housing stock are to be advanced. A task force is intended to find and implement alternative and cheaper measures. That should save 150 million euros.

2. Securing the affiliation of the social pension system: Access to the corridor pension is tightened, instead of early retirement, it should be increasingly in partial retirement to keep people longer in working life.

3. Modern health system with high quality for everyone: In order to make the health system « more expenditure », digitization and « better patient steering » are to be used or implemented.

4. Focus on education: The model of the pedagogical-administrative specialists is to be introduced gradually. In addition, there should be more efficient German support programs and orientation classes.

5. Strengthen location: Targeted measures for the development of specialists and the recruiting of international specialists should be taken and strengthened. This is to be spent on 40 million euros this year.

6. Qualification and labor market policy: In the years 2025 and 2026, the labor market service had an additional 390 million euros available, especially for a skilled worker offensive.

7. Prevent poverty: A fund for maintenance guarantees is introduced. From 2026, 35 million euros are available from 2026, which are to benefit women and children in particularly precarious situations.

8. Increase security: As part of the advanced plan of the Federal Army, defense expenditure should increase to two percent of GDP by 2032.

« There will be no doubt a few hard years »

Most recently, Marterbauer came up with an EU deficit procedure against Austrians: « I am not afraid of this procedure at all, » he emphasized, because it essentially meant « that we intensify the existing regular exchange with the Commission about the renovation measures and their progress ». Anyone who claims that the deficit procedure would put Austria among the Kuratel Brüssels or would even be a « compensation » of Austrian politics, « either has not dealt with the EU rules or spread false claims against better knowledge ».

Budget rehabilitation is an overall task « that can only succeed in trusting and joint work, » emphasized the head of department. This is aware of this to everyone involved. « There are no doubt a few hard years, » said Marterbauer. Everyone will feel the budget renovation. « Everyone will contribute to this. » But the loads would be divided fairly: « Our actions will be shaped by transparency and ongoing information to the public about the situation of state finances, » promised the finance minister. And: « No expenses are approved that are not covered. » In conclusion, the social democrat was confident: « We act sustainably in the interest of these and the next generations. Austria can, if it wants,. We will renovate the budget and come back on course. »