Chancellor for activists – climate protest “sabotage of civil society”

Chancellor Talks is the name of the new communication format introduced by Karl Nehammer. Two months after the premiere, a new edition followed yesterday. The Chancellor is not a man of spare emotions, as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz would be. He openly communicated about his plans for 90 minutes – and also issued sharp criticism.

Protest “against the good cause”
As for the climate stickers currently blocking the streets in Vienna, he explained that it was “the completely wrong form of protest”. “It’s sabotage by civil society,” Nehammer said. People would be prevented from making a living, “emergency vehicles will be impeded,” the chancellor said. This protest is directed “against a good cause”. Arrests are the right thing to do, the Interior Minister’s “zero-tolerance policy” is “right and important”.

The most recent initiative by Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) has been a big topic of discussion: Just 24 hours before the chancellor’s talks, he announced in a “Kurier” interview that he would bolster full-time jobs. He can envision cuts in social benefits for part-time work. This proposal led to much criticism.

Nehammer clarified the idea: “It’s about getting more people into work with new measures and reforms. This goal cannot be achieved through qualified immigration alone,” says Nehammer. Anyone who works part-time and has additional care responsibilities will “not be burdened of the reforms,” ​​Nehammer assures.

Rauch: The need for support is decisive
In other words, mothers of dependent children who work part-time need not fear cuts in Social Security benefits. Even part-time workers who care for relatives will not notice the reform.

Kocher is currently negotiating with the Greens, Nehammer said. The Ministry of Social Affairs knows nothing about concrete negotiations. On the contrary: Minister of Social Affairs Johannes Rauch (Greens) was not at all happy with the new subject that the ÖVP brought to the table. “Proper design of social benefits is an important task for politicians. What matters is the need for support – not the size of the employment. Cutting back on existing social benefits is out of the question for me,” is Rauch’s clear rejection.

Nehammer: Schengen veto remains in effect
There was also a very clear rejection of the chancellor – but in a completely different direction. Even if there are successes at the EU migration summit, Nehammer does not intend to give up the veto on Bulgaria’s and Romania’s accession to Schengen. “As long as the EU asylum system is dysfunctional, the veto will remain.” He can’t understand the excitement over the veto. “At the time, Germany blocked Austria’s accession to Schengen for three years,” Nehammer said. In addition, Germany currently controls the border with Austria. “If Germany believes that Bulgaria and Romania should become part of Schengen, then Germany should also end border controls with Austria,” Nehammer clarifies.

“ORF must become cheaper”
In the discussion about the financing of the ORF, the Chancellor did not want to commit himself to a model on Tuesday. However, he told Media Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) that it was crucial that it “become cheaper for people,” Nehammer said. Asked about the future of the Wiener Zeitung, Nehammer said there is a “well-defined way” in which it should become an online newspaper. He noted that many people were concerned about the “Wiener Zeitung”, but at the same time recalled that it was always funded by the state or companies that had to publish tenders there. Since the latter obligation has changed, it is also a normal process for the editors to change.