“Chancellor hour” – This is how Nehammer answers your questions!

Krone.at users put about 800 questions to the Chancellor in advance. The range of topics was correspondingly wide. The most frequently asked questions were about the current coalition, but also about the current crises. In conversation with Katia Wagner, Karl Nehammer answered many of them.

climate protection
The Chancellor remains confident that we can meet the climate targets. He wants to focus on innovations and technology. Yet he is realistic: “Sometimes we have to learn to live with the consequences.” When asked by a reader why applying for subsidies for photovoltaic installations was so “difficult”, the chancellor surprisingly apologized. “We know things aren’t going well,” he admits. He has no understanding of climate glue, which should be clearly condemned.

shortage of doctors
Fighting the shortage of doctors and nurses is “important” for the Chancellor. “It won’t happen overnight,” but the goal is to recruit another 800 panelists by 2030. Foreign nurses must be recruited.

The pension
Retirement age is also a very popular topic among “Krone” users. People have to “work as long as possible” to make the pension system “sustainable”. However, measures are also needed for those who do the hard work. They should get “offers for other types of jobs” that are less physically demanding. Work is currently underway to ensure that pensioners can earn something tax-free.

inflation
On electricity prices, the chancellor says “everything is moving much too slowly”. He is skeptical of the idea of ​​cutting massive taxes such as VAT. “It’s always a watering can,” says Nehammer. If there was a way to guarantee that the VAT reduction would reach the customer, it would be worth considering. “There are no prohibitions on thinking for me,” says Nehammer.

working world
The fact that labor market reform erupted was “not happy”. “The big hit with the coalition partner did not work out,” he says self-critically. For him, “more restrictive” action should be taken against people who have little willingness to work. The balance between motivated workers and those who do not want to work is currently “unbalanced”.

politicians salaries
If someone puts in a lot of personal effort, including “a lot of time,” and “works honestly,” it’s legitimate to “be paid accordingly,” the chancellor says.

neutrality
Nehammer emphasizes again that “our neutrality is not in question”. He thinks it is important that communication channels remain open, including to Russia. However, that does not mean that one cannot call “injustice” and that Russia cannot be called an invader. “This is not a violation of neutrality, but a requirement of humanity and fairness.”

Migration and asylum
Many users wanted to know why refugees are not supported in kind instead of money. “We are very open to the proposal, especially if someone is in basic care because the asylum procedure is still ongoing or is then entitled to asylum,” says the chancellor. A legal review is currently underway to determine whether full access to social assistance can be withdrawn for people who have not lived in Austria for five years.

domestic policy
Nehammer is not afraid of the power of the FPÖ. The Freedomists lack “real solutions”, the “mouth heroism” would only “emotionalize and frustrate” people because in the end nothing will happen. Such a policy is “irresponsible” for him. He wanted to exercise restraint in the SPÖ presidential debate. Can there be new elections? “We have the task of completing the legislature.”

Corona
Nehammer wanted to “start a dialogue process” when it came to dealing with the coronavirus. He emphasizes that no decision was taken “lightly” during the pandemic. “The goal has always been to protect human life,” he says. He wanted to help everyone to get over the ditch that had formed. “But it’s clear to me: I’m not going to change sides of the ditch,” said Nehammer.

See the full video above. The “Vice Chancellor’s Hour” with Werner Kogler (Green Party) will be on krone.tv in one month, May 17, 2023!