Austria before historical decision: traffic light coalition in the crisis!

Austria before historical decision: traffic light coalition in the crisis!

Austria is on the crossroads: Does the country get the first traffic light government in its history or threaten to fail the coalition negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS? As today decided before Christmas whether they wanted to work together. A first interim assessment of the negotiations is scheduled until December 12, and the negotiation groups should come together at least once. However, the central question remains the financial situation: The SPÖ calls for a property tax as a condition for its participation in the government, which is due to violent resistance from ÖVP boss Karl Nehammer. The latter threatened to stop the negotiations quickly, the SPÖ should stick to its claim.

drastic announcements on the budget situation

The current budget situation is tense, as the SPÖ has publicly announced. SPÖ finance spokesman Kai Jan Krainer said that the budget was "defacto broken" and he sees a "mammoth task" to the parties. These words were supported by SPÖ boss Andreas Babler, who pointed out the need for higher taxes for wealthy. The budget renovation must take place both on the output side and on the revenue side. In contrast, ÖVP-Wirtschaftsbund-chairman Harald Mahrer excluded new taxes, while Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger is more flexible and explained that a solution should be found primarily through expenses, as orf reports.

The talks mainly take place in the Palais Epstein and Parliament. A core control group, consisting of party leader Nehammer, Babler and Meinl-Reisinger, is to lead the negotiating process. Around 300 members are stimulated in various groups that negotiate the most important topics such as business, education and climate. The environmental organization Greenpeace symbolically handed over earth balls to the parties to underline the importance of climate protection in the negotiations.