Pension reform in danger: FPÖ calls for rethinking of the social system!

Pension reform in danger: FPÖ calls for rethinking of the social system!

Salzburg's Freedom Party leader Marlene Svazek has sharply criticized the need to increase the retirement age to 67, as announced by WIFO. She described this as a clear sign of poor financial management and the federal government's failed labor market policy. Svazek criticized that Austria had hardly reacted to demographic change and that essential fundamental changes in labor market and social policy had been neglected. She argues that a reformed orientation of the social system and the labor market is necessary before such a pension reform. Currently, over 70% of Syrians living in Vienna are dependent on the minimum income, which further exacerbates the problem OTS reported.

In the political context, the FPÖ, under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, emphasizes its readiness to form a government after achieving a remarkable victory in the elections. However, the question arises as to how cooperation with the ÖVP could come about under the current chairman Karl Nehammer. Political scientist Peter Filzmaier pointed out that Nehammer's clear distancing from an FPÖ government under Kickl represents a major hurdle. While Kickl is pushing for a possible coalition, the chances of this seem slim at the moment. The FPÖ could instead concentrate on an opposition strategy and use the next five years to continuously campaign. “The FPÖ would continue its campaign in opposition for five years,” said Filzmaier, which is certainly of interest in light of the current economic situation. Regarding the situation surrounding the formation of a government, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will meet with all parties in the National Council next week to explore possible coalitions, which is reported in the news from ORF was highlighted.