Remaining work program

Coalition enters the finale: what the ÖVP & Greens are planning

Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (right) and his Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler want to continue working until the regular election date.

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

The turquoise-green coalition is negotiating a work program for the remaining months until the regular National Council elections in autumn. However, both parties are unlikely to produce a result this week due to the semester break. However, a corresponding statement is to be presented in the coming weeks. WKÖ boss Harald Mahrer (ÖVP) said that the government would still have to present a construction program.

For weeks around the turn of the year, there had been speculation, particularly within the ÖVP, as to whether the National Council elections should be brought forward after all.

Probably no early elections
However, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) finally decided at the end of January to rule out early elections, and the Greens had no interest in ending the coalition prematurely anyway. For the remaining six months, they now want to define points that can still be implemented together. As the "Presse" recently reported, this will also involve projects that are not in the original government program.

(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

New developments since the government took office
Finally, there have naturally been new developments since the government program was adopted. Green Party leader Sigrid Maurer recently pointed out in "ZiB 2", for example, that the Constitutional Court had lifted the transitional period until 2040 for the ban on fully slatted floors in pig farming. However, the Supreme Court has also given the government other homework to do, such as reforming the ORF committees.

Climate, Russia and gas
In the TV interview, Maurer also named the security strategy - "both in terms of military security, cyber security and, of course, climate security" - as an important project. "We need a security strategy in dealing with Russia, in relation to the phase-out of Russian gas. This is also something we will be working on in the coming months."

According to APA information, the negotiations are also about measures in the area of construction and renovation, for example. It is considered unrealistic that the deal will be closed this week, as significant parts of the negotiating team are currently on semester break, according to reports from both sides. After that, however, the intention is to present a corresponding statement, which will then be incorporated into concrete Council of Ministers presentations in the following weeks.

We need a security strategy for dealing with Russia in relation to the withdrawal from Russian gas. This is also something we will be working on in the coming months.

Die grüne Klubchefin Sigrid Maurer

Chamber of Commerce President Mahrer, as head of the ÖVP Economic Association on the People's Party board, said at a press conference on Wednesday that the government had been elected "to work - and to finish the job". There is still a lot on the agenda.

Measures possible for weakening construction industry 
Mahrer specifically addressed the construction industry, for which "the government will have to come up with a package in the coming months". Measures to end dependency on Russian gas should also be strengthened - for example by strengthening the pipeline from the west and creating the possibility of a flow reversal to the south.

The government has been elected to work - also to finish the job.

WKÖ-Chef Harald Mahrer (ÖVP)

ÖVP: No coalition preferences for the time being
Mahrer did not want to name any coalition preferences for after the election. In terms of content, he only said this much in the direction of the SPÖ and FPÖ: working less is just as unacceptable as building a "Fortress Austria". These are 
"fairytales" told by "certain fairytale princes", he alluded to the red and blue party leaders. Whoever governs after the election must tackle the issues of non-wage labor costs, energy, bureaucracy and the shortage of skilled workers. Non-wage labor costs should be reduced "without cutting social benefits"; for example, the money paid by employers into the Family Burden Equalization Fund could be taken on. According to Mahrer, these could be borne by the budget if there is suitable counter-financing.