“Everything is getting more expensive” – ​​SPÖ dares to cut energy prices

“The next wave of inflation is already inevitable,” Rendi-Wagner declared in the red foyer, referring specifically to the recent sharp rise in inflation, which has now reached eight percent. The SPÖ leader lacks concrete countermeasures to guide the increasingly burdened households in Austria through the crisis.

“Inflation affects more and more people every day and is already penetrating deep into the working middle class. But we only hear from the government what is not possible,” she says of Chancellor Karl Nehammer, “one falls after another.”

SPÖ wants to use excess profit
But in addition to the verbal attacks, she also had substantive suggestions: About half of the surplus profits (currently believed to be around four billion euros) from the energy producers should be used to relieve people. Simply suspending VAT on electricity, gas, fuel and groceries would cut prices by 20 percent (10 percent for groceries).

The SPÖ would like to see the other half used in investments for the energy transition – so that one can finally become less dependent on oil and gas. “These unjustified excess profits must be skimmed off and returned to the people,” she demands that energy producers also do their part.

Postponement of CO2 taxes?
At the same time, Rendi-Wagner responds to a proposal from the “Krone” to postpone the CO2 tax: “Amid the inflation wave, I am in favor of postponement until October 1, because only then will the compensation come,” insists the SPÖ- boss on.