“Necessities” – Struggle for coalition: Mahrer shows red lines

KTM’s bankruptcy shows how deeply the Austrian economy is in crisis. The earthquake during the elections in Styria in turn illustrates how deep the existential fears of citizens are.

Chairman of the Economic Chamber Harald Mahrer, who was part of the ÖVP team in the exploratory negotiations, is now going on the offensive and making demands on the new government.

“There are absolute necessities”
“There are absolute necessities without which no government has the right to exist.” It is important to eliminate the “homemade structural problems” and the great “injustice prevalent in the country”. “There is no longer a big financial difference between those who could work but don’t want to without good reason – such as childcare or care work – and the people who can, want to work and do. “It is a difficult poison cocktail,” warns Mahrer.

“The golden times are over in all of Europe”
A red line is working hours: the considerations, especially of the Social Democrats, “whether people could work less in the country are not up for discussion. We need to discuss how we can work more in the country.” The trend of ‘part-time work and messing around’ must be stopped. “I don’t understand why this was allowed to take so long.”

• The will to perform should be increased with an incentive system. “This applies to working after retirement and the overtime side. Moreover, we need a rapid reduction in indirect labor costs from the beginning of 2026. These are absolute must-haves, because Austrian products are great, but too expensive.”

• Why are measures important? Because Austria is heading for a gap of 250,000 people who will be missing from the labor market due to retirement in the next fifteen years. “We will need immigration – but to the labor market and not to the social system. For example, Mahrer is surprised that Austria allows people from the Western Balkan countries who want to work to travel through Austria via the guest worker route.” they can work in Bavaria, but because that option does not exist for these employees, a similar work quota applies to Austria.

• At the same time, the state must save money. SPÖ leader Babler is already talking about new taxes. Mahrer clearly rejects this idea. “New taxes are the solution if you don’t want to do the work of sorting out expenses. We enjoy some luxury spending. The money can be found to close the structural gap and invest in the future.”

• Mahrer calls on everyone – federal, state and local authorities – to finally recognize that “the golden times are over across Europe. Figuratively speaking: seven roundabouts in every municipality are pointless. Instead, you have to prioritize,” he said. “The population is getting older. To believe that half of all hospitals can be closed is absurd. You become in it Health and care system “We must invest in early childhood education so that our grandchildren have future opportunities. Mahrer still lacks “a common recognition among negotiators of how critical the situation is.”

“Some are playing with the FPÖ’s economic program”
Mahrer gives the Zuckerl coalition a 50:50 chance, the industrial association plays with FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl as a coalition partner. “Some are flirting with the FPÖ’s economic program because it has been partly copied by us and the industrial association. But you have to think two steps ahead. As an exporting country, we earn six out of every ten euros of our added value abroad. You can’t isolate yourself there. It is also about the reputation of the country.”