“Krone” Chancellor Check – A year of Karl Nehammer: his tops and flops

Crises appeared in an almost endless loop over the past year. The Nehammer cabinet has achieved a few things in overcoming the crisis: in the spring there were still discussions about a complete standstill in the country due to the imminent lack of energy.

Today, gas storage facilities are 80 to 90 percent full, and within months Austria has managed to reduce its dependence on Russian gas from 80 to 20 percent.

Economic researchers give Nehammer good marks
Economic researchers also give Nehammer and his team good figures for the build-up of economic aid (a total of almost 17 billion without cold progress). Models such as the electricity price brake were adopted by the German government.

ÖVP in the survey low
Yet the polls are anything but rosy for the ÖVP. Perhaps because tops and flops alternate. The failure of unemployment benefits reform was announced last Friday. The ÖVP and the Greens are also struggling on climate protection and the judiciary.

The law on climate protection is a long time coming
The Climate Protection Act will soon be valid for two years. Although the Renewable Heat Act has been introduced by the government, it is blocked in parliament. Also on the waiting list are the US Attorney, the Anti-Corruption Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

Noticeable relief for the taxpayer
The elimination of cold progression is seen as a great achievement – this has been demanded for decades. However, experts such as Christoph Badelt of the Fiscal Council point out that concrete counter-financing strategies are still lacking. Under the influence of the war, the government has also ensured a historic increase in military spending.