On Wednesday, Chancellor Karl Nehammer and his deputy Werner Kogler presented the new members of the government to the National Council (see video above). While the turquoise-green coalition tried to convey confidence, the opposition parties sharply criticized it. “The government is far removed from the needs and concerns of the people,” Blue Party leader Herbert Kickl warned. His party and the SPÖ called for new elections.
Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor presented the new Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig, Minister of Economy and Labor Martin Kocher, who is now also in charge of economic agendas, State Secretary for Tourism Susanne Kraus-Winkler, State Secretary for Digitization Florian Tursky, who is anchored in the Ministry of Finance and State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm, to whom the Community Service Days have been handed over.
Nehammer: “Every change offers opportunities for something new”
“Every change also offers opportunities for something new,” Nehammer referred to the reorganization of the tasks of the ministries. Regarding the criticism of the merger of the labor and economic departments, the chancellor said a ministry had been created to tackle one of the greatest challenges of the time. On the one hand, well-trained employees are needed and on the other, courageous entrepreneurs who want to invest, create jobs and ensure prosperity.
Nehammer announced that the government is working hard on a new aid package as the challenges of war, rising prices and inflation are far from over. This cannot prevent the consequences, but can limit them as much as possible. In order to guarantee the security of energy supply, measures have been taken for a strategic gas stock and the health care reform is being given a new impetus.
Kogler: ‘Government in extremely challenging times’
Kogler emphasized the challenging times for the government. It must be recognized that several crises have converged in recent months, each of which has had a dimension that has not existed in recent decades. This poses enormous challenges for society and the economy.
The federal government will therefore present a new emergency package before the summer, the vice chancellor announced. This is done in a targeted manner and not according to the watering can principle. Those who can do it more easily should carry the burden so it doesn’t become unbearable for those who can’t anymore, Kogler said. For the energy transition, it is necessary to set a course to break out of dependence.
Unlike the opposition, which deals with insults rather than solutions, the government in this country is tackling huge challenges, said green club leader Sigrid Maurer.
SPÖ: The government is not leading the country through the crisis, but is bringing it in
Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ) had a different opinion about the work of the government. With the biggest wave of inflation and the ongoing pandemic, an economic and social catastrophe broke out across the country. However, the federal government is busy looking for new ministers every two months instead of looking after the people of the country. There were important solutions to be addressed in the areas of inflation, energy security, health and care. However, the government is not leading the country through the crisis, but is bringing it in. That is political irresponsibility.
FPÖ: “Government is a flea circus”
The biggest wave of inflation in 40 years is sweeping the country and every day it becomes more urgent to help quickly, unbureaucratically and immediately, criticized FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. The federal government is “very far” from the concerns and needs of the people and only close to their own needs. The balance of the two ministers is devastating, the president of the FPÖ club referred to the “Kaufhaus Österreich” project or the closure of the federal gardens during the pandemic. State secretariats would ‘shoot like mushrooms’, Kickl wondered, among other things, about the powers of the new State Secretary for Digitization. The government is a pure “door-door” and a “flea circus,” Kickl said.
NEOS locates federal government’s refusal to accept reality
NEOS boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger lacked awareness of the seriousness of the current situation. No country is as little protected as Austria. Yet there is no discussion about the security policy. Meinl-Reisinger argued for a reinterpretation of neutrality as a refusal of reality by the federal government. She also lacked seriousness in the discussion about price increases.
Source: Krone
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