Criticism of the budget – SPÖ: “The government throws the money out the window”

SPÖ budget spokesman Jan Krainer: “The federal government has not done anything for a long time, now they are throwing the money out the window.” However, the problem is not the amount, but that the government spends the money wrong. “The government prefers to pay billions to households and companies to subsidize overpriced electricity. That’s why some energy companies are building cash storage instead of gas storage and making billions in extra profit,” says Krainer, again calling on energy companies to skim profits.

Criticism of the “watering can principle”
The NEOS again criticized the “watering can principle”: “Bonuses, vouchers, subsidies that don’t go where they’re needed most. Only three percent of the anti-inflation package goes to low-income households,” budget spokeswoman Karin Doppelbauer said in a broadcast. It is the largest budget of all time, but “the smallest focus on real investment for the future.” In addition, the budget is a “slap in the face to the young people who have to carry this debt backpack”.

There can be no question of certainty with this budget, said FPÖ party chairman Herbert Kickl in a broadcast. “Since the beginning of the Second Republic, uncertainty has never been as great as it is now,” but that is not due to international developments, but because of the federal government’s response to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and inflation. Since the start of the pandemic, about €46.5 billion has been spent to mitigate the effects — money that, according to Kickl, could have been saved had “lockdowns, test orgies and vaccination propaganda” been avoided.

“One-off payments are not enough”
ÖGB chairman Wolfgang Katzian criticizes that too little of the aid reaches the people. “Sustainable measures are not an indication, one-off payments are not enough! If prices are not definitively lowered, the lasting effect that would be needed given the record inflation and price increases will not be forthcoming.” Instead of more money for the military, he would have preferred an increase in the health sector.

There are also some gaps in the budget for the Chamber of Labor (AK). In addition to more money for care and education, the AK lacks concrete measures to combat poverty and unemployment. “The fiscal plans for the coming years bring significantly more money for internal and external security, but lack a comparable investment offensive in social security,” said AK chief economist Markus Marterbauer.

Government: ‘Bringing people more money into the market’
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) and Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), on the other hand, praised Brunner’s plan for state finances. “What has been discussed for years is now being implemented,” the vice chancellor said, praising the government’s work. “With this budget planning, we are making Austria safer and more independent for the future,” emphasized Nehammer. “The elimination of cold progression is a milestone that has been talked about for 30 years, we have now abolished it. That puts more money in the stock market for everyone,” said the chancellor. But it is also about securing social peace in the country and in society.

The Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) was also satisfied. “The new loan planned for 2023 is acceptable so that households and companies can get through the uncertain times. Because one thing is certain: extraordinary times call for an extraordinary fiscal policy,” says WKÖ chairman Harald Mahrer. However, some measures, such as the Electricity Price Compensation Act or the publication of the energy cost subsidy directive, have yet to be implemented.

Climate NGOs call for lengthy legislative changes
Representatives of NGOs are not so pleased. “In principle, the increase in the budget for the environment, climate and energy is to be welcomed. However, that is not enough to set Austria on a long-term climate course,” said Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace, and WWF program manager Hanna Simons. Instead, the federal government must implement laws such as the Climate Protection Act, the Energy Efficiency Act and the Renewable Heat Act.

Fridays For Future Austria lacks clear targets in the budget. “A budget without climate targets is populist, haphazard and jeopardizes our future. Of course money is needed, but the many billions of euros for climate protection can only contribute to CO2 reduction if Austria has a strategy for the effective use of these funds.

Similar criticism comes from Global 2000. The extra funding is welcome, but “a binding legal framework is now also needed in the Renewable Heat Act,” said climate and energy spokesman Johannes Wahlmüller.