The currently soaring inflation in Austria is leading to a huge loss of real wages for the people of the country. While the turquoise-green federal government had announced its will to take countermeasures, the SPÖ didn’t go far enough. Party leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner even accused the coalition of “inactivity”, which is why the Social Democrats now want to start a special session in the National Council on the subject.
At just under seven percent, inflation is at its highest level in 40 years. “It’s not filth,” SPÖ president Pamela Rendi-Wagner said at a press conference on Saturday. “If the government doesn’t work, then parliament works,” the party continued the discussion on Twitter.
ask energy companies to pay
As Rendi-Wagner further explained, due to price developments, energy companies also have to make available some of their “excess profits”. She assumes that these amounts to two billion euros in Austria. According to an EU proposal, ten percent, or 200 million euros, could be skimmed off through taxes or contributions.
The income tax cut should be designed in such a way that “the first 1,700 euros of every money earned” should be made tax-free, so that working people “at the end of the year”.
Rent increase “very big sin”
The suspension of the statutory rent adjustment of old buildings every two years would not be unusual. On the other hand, it would be “a very great sin” to fuel the currently very high inflation by raising these rents by about 6 percent. While she is open to fundamental reform of the price adjustment system, it would be “cynical and misguided” to start a lengthy discussion about it now.
“I hope the unions are reasonable”
Rendi-Wagner accused Treasury Secretary Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) of demanding wage controls, while at the same time not only increasing rents and energy prices, but also food costs. Brunner had previously warned that there should be no ‘wage-price spiral’ in the collective labor agreement negotiations in the autumn.
“I hope the unions will be reasonable,” the newspaper quoted him as saying that the Treasury Department suggested that “some sort of pact should be made so that expectations are not pushed too far. It would be the biggest disaster if we could lower inflation.” would further fuel the wage-price spiral.”
“It’s not right” that the government allows price increases for rent, energy and food, but demands wage moderation. “I wonder if the government knows who it is working for,” the SPÖ leader said. This is obviously not for employees, retirees, families or young people. When it came to stock or corporate tax, “this government was wide awake. But when it comes to millions of people, this government is in twilight.”
Appeal to a green conscience
She also criticized the Greens harshly. She hadn’t heard from the Social Affairs Minister (Johannes Rauch) and Vice Chancellor (Werner Kogler) about this matter for weeks. If the Greens still have a glimmer of social conscience and any political weight in this country, then they must and must now throw it on the balance sheet and convince the federal government to intervene now.”
Test system “destroyed”
Rendi-Wagner is in favor of starting the “fourth stab” against Corona in time so that the population has the greatest possible vaccination protection at the start of the expected autumn wave. Tests should be continued in schools at least twice a week. In this way one also “tests in the families”. It was “not very smart” to “destroy” the existing extensive test system.
Source: Krone
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