According to government circles on Thursday, emergency measures – especially for people with low incomes – are expected in the summer. Parts of the anti-inflation package are already in their final stages. Nothing has changed on the individual points: The first measure is one-off payments for social benefits such as child benefit, social assistance and unemployment benefit. These one-off payments can be made quickly as no legislative act is required.
Long-term changes, such as the annual valuation of social benefits not yet adjusted annually for inflation, and the abolition of cold progression, are more complex and need to be legislated and submitted for deliberation. They can therefore be carried out in the autumn at the earliest.
CO₂ tax postponed until October
No law is needed to shift the CO₂ price from July to October, which has already been agreed, and to increase the climate bonus for this year from 100 to 200 euros depending on the residential area to 250 euros for everyone. be regulated by regulation. Increasing the bonus costs 750 million euros and postponing the CO₂ price costs 280 million euros. With these two measures alone, the government will provide one billion euros in emergency aid.
Greens step on the brakes as fuel prices are capped
The ÖVP and the Greens disagree on the issue of limiting fuel prices. Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) does not want to hear about this and refers to the increase in the commuter allowance and the commuter euro that has already been introduced. ÖVP club chairman August Wöginger could benefit greatly from a fuel price brake, but admits that this cannot be implemented with the Greens.
Slow talks between government and social partners
According to the chairman of the Chamber of Labor, Renate Anderl, the talks between the government and the social partners are not going smoothly: “We are not very satisfied. But there are signs that something is being done now,” she said. She sees herself bolstered in her demands by the ÖGB. “Something urgently needs to be done before the summer. We had a meeting on Wednesday, and we were told there was in a week or two something really would come to the table. We’re waiting for that and we’ll see what really happens.”
Opposition makes demands
The opposition spoke again on Thursday. SPÖ spokesman Jan Krainer reiterated his party’s demand that millions in assets, legacies and gifts should make a “substantial contribution” to the state budget. FPÖ family spokeswoman Edith Mühlberghuber submitted a motion to the Parliamentary Family Committee regarding “an automatic annual adjustment of family allowances to inflation. People need help now and not in the coming months.” The chairman of the SPÖ Pensioners’ Association, Peter Kostelka, demanded that the pension adjustment granted from January 2023 should come as early as July 2022.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
