Within the SPÖ, the theme of migration is finally recognized as a problem, says SPÖ spokesman and trade unionist Josef Muchitsch. “I am convinced that we need to be more courageous, with clear positions. Clear lines are needed on how immigration should and can take place.” The SPÖ demands processing centers at the external borders of the EU, and a fair asylum policy throughout Europe, “We must also dare to say that a hospitable culture without borders is no longer possible.”
But measures are also needed so that people who are already in Austria have the opportunity to integrate quickly and “so that they can self-finance their lives in Austria,” Muchitsch says in the krone.tv conversation with Jana Pasching.
“ÖVP wants to vote on migration by doing nothing”
Muchitsch clearly sees the political responsibility for the subject in the ÖVP. This has been Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs for 20 years. The ÖVP has learned or improved nothing since the migration crisis in 2015. Muchitsch found a different strategy in the People’s Party: “The ÖVP wants to vote by doing nothing about migration.” The problems can all be solved, you just have to want it.
“Public personnel debate is paralyzing ourselves”
After Muchitsch had finally put the mayor of Burgenland, Hans Peter Doskozil, in his place, he now sounds softer tones: “I would see it positively if Hans-Peter Doskozil were back on the party board. “We are an open movement in social democracy, every opinion has its place.” But this should be expressed in committees and not through public messages. Any other debate not only harms the SPÖ, but also society as a whole. Why? Social democracy has the best concepts against inflation and for fair, just coexistence. “We’re paralyzing ourselves with these public debates about staffing.”
Inflation: “How often do we still fly to Brussels?!”
Muchitsch does not see the government’s anti-inflation measures. The one-off payments to affected groups have done nothing to fight inflation. “Of course it makes sense to lower the gas price.” The government has failed to do much, for example to set aside the merit order principle. It is important here to decouple the price of gas from other forms of energy. According to the government, it is a European matter, but other countries such as Portugal and Spain have also taken matters into their own hands, according to the trade unionist. “I keep wondering how many times we will fly to Brussels before we finally make some progress so that inflation in Austria is actually fought in the interest of the people.”
Nursing allowance: ‘Botch as with patient billion’
Also this year, the SPÖ must continue to apply leverage where the government has failed. This is partly due to inflation, but also to health policy. The heroes of the pandemic, the nursing staff, have so far been forgotten by the government. Muchitsch demands that all people who work in healthcare receive a gross for net healthcare allowance. People who should receive the health care allowance do not receive it because they changed employees during the year. “There is something going on here that has not been prepared well enough.” The caring next of kin would also be “fobbed off” with a family member bonus of four euros per day or 125 euros per month. “It’s a mess like the patient billion. That billion promised by the government never came.”
You can see the whole video with Josef Muchitsch in the video above. Watch Krone Live Monday through Friday from 9am on krone.tv.
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Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
