Meinl-Reisinger: – “Swing in migration policy”

The head of NEOS has published a book – in the middle of turbulent times. The title is ‘Turning Point’. Beate Meinl-Reisinger spoke with Rainer Nowak, super department head of Krone, about this topic. “The established parties have no strategies and only wage defensive battles. They only care about themselves, only stay in power and work on the political enemy. People are tired of this. I also elaborated on that in my book.”

Heidi Glück recalled parallels with the time of Jörg Haider, when the grand coalition pursued a blockade policy. It is similar today. “The population no longer trusts that politicians have the ability to find solutions. This is also why people like Marco Pogo or the communists suggest this. Look, we do it differently. And they also look younger and fresher. That is what the established parties are missing.”

“Betrayal of the Boy”
Economist Monika Köppl-Turyna, director of Eco Austria, saw the cause in the corona crisis. Since then there have always been acute problems. Including war and inflation. Demography is a big problem. There are no solutions here. ‘You have to tackle unpopular truths’

Meinl-Reisinger also talks about the generation contract. He is broken, “it is a betrayal of the boy. There should also be an increase in the retirement age.” Köppl-Turyna assisted. “We are still retiring far too early, given the increasing life expectancy. It is important to recognize this. The old system can’t do that.” She used Denmark as a role model, where they faced the same problem decades ago but still responded. Nowadays things are much better.

“The Party’s Over”
Nowak wanted to know how reforms could be implemented in a possible government with the larger parties. “We will have to do a lot. The party is over. People run out of money. Development between generations no longer exists. We can no longer incur debt at the expense of the next generation.”

“I’m glad I got beaten for that.”
It was also about opportunities for women (keyword poverty in old age), or about “federalism and federalism and federalism”. There is an urgent need to intervene here, which Meinl-Reisinger does not believe the ÖVP and SPÖ or the Blues can do.

The ÖVP-affiliated advisor Heidi Glück encourages the Pinke in her efforts and wants others to behave the same way. The economist also argues that given the crisis and recession, we must now counter it with solid reforms.

Meinl-Reisinger: “And what remains of Chancellor Nehammer’s speech about the future is gender. ‘That is sad.’ Heidi Glück said that in Austria we see a loss of discourse, including a language culture that is ‘going downhill’.

Meinl-Reisinger: “I am a simple person. I want clear rules. But if you say you don’t want to talk about it, then I don’t understand. Also when it comes to safety. I am in favor of a uniform European solution. Not NATO.’ What is certain is that neutrality is meaningless when you are alone. “I advocate honesty in the discussion. I would love to get beat up for that.”

“Leave the field to the right-wing populists”
The emotional subject of migration was also discussed. Rainer Nowak suggests a certain shift in NEOS. “That is right. If we continue like this, we will leave the field only to the right-wing populists. We must reconsider our current migration policy.” Asylum procedures outside Europe are necessary. But this should not be a symbolic policy. But a European solution. Here the NEOS boss is on the same page as the ÖVP.

She also advocates “asylum procedures in third countries. But they must be done in a humane manner. We as the EU or UN should also help organize this.”