Raab as head of migration policy: burden on the population?

Raab as head of migration policy: burden on the population?

The political landscape in Austria is currently characterized by violent disputes. FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafenecker has sharply criticized the recent appointment of former ÖVP Integration and Media Minister Susanne Raab as General Director of the Vienna Center for Migration Policy (ICMPD). Loud OTS Hafenecker accuses the black-green government of rewarding former members for their negative performance. The introduction of the ORF compulsory tax stands out as one of Raab's negative legacies.

Hafenecker also says that the current government is the most expensive in the country's history, despite an ongoing budget catastrophe. He criticizes the system parties for predominantly representing the interests of the elites and thus placing a considerable burden on the population. He also points out the possibility of distribution of supply positions among the members of the government after a possible change of government.

Government balance sheet in focus

The black-green federal government, which has been in office since January 7, 2020, is now showing a mixed record ahead of the upcoming National Council elections in 2024. This coalition, which emerged after the Ibiza scandal and the incompetence of an ÖVP-FPÖ coalition, originally aimed to combine the best of both worlds. However, soon after taking office, work was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a lockdown in March 2020. This crisis required the government to respond quickly to the impending economic catastrophe. The support in the form of the short-time work regulation was viewed positively, but there was also criticism of delayed measures.

In addition, the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine from February 2022 and the associated escalation of energy prices and inflation became visible. The inflation rate climbed to record levels of up to 11.2 percent. Experts, such as lawyer Ines Stilling, criticize the government's inadequate countermeasures after the pandemic, which have put many workers in a precarious position. Austria experienced a historic real wage loss of 3.7 percent in 2022, while corporate profits rose.

Successes and challenges

Meanwhile, the Federal Chancellery highlights in a report that the government has made significant progress during its term in office. Almost 85% of the government program has been implemented, more than the last continuous government. In a program of 328 pages, important reforms such as the eco-social tax reform and the abolition of cold progression were described. Investments in renewable energies and CO2-neutral production methods were also mentioned as milestones that led to the strengthening of the business location.

However, it should be noted that despite these positive aspects, many citizens are struggling with the financial burdens and the increase in the cost of living. Criticism of the government is therefore diverse, with some seeing progress in social policy, but others pointing to regression. The upcoming elections on September 29, 2024 could provide a crucial opportunity to assess the government's record and discuss possible reforms to reduce social inequality.