Resignation required: Minister of Social Affairs Schumann fails at pension topics!

Resignation required: Minister of Social Affairs Schumann fails at pension topics!

On September 21, 2025, the FPÖ club chairman deputy Dr. Dagmar Belakowitsch has spicy criticism of the appearance of Minister of Social Affairs Corinna Schumann in the ORF press hour. On the occasion of this appearance, Belakovich accused the minister to give a "bankruptcy declaration across the board", which in her opinion represents an "notice of revelation of total failure". Instead of presenting solutions, there is only a picture of perplexity, incompetence and refusal to realize, according to the FPÖ politician.

It is particularly worrying that Schumann has emphasized several times that her own politics is "no pleasure". Belakowitsch found that the minister's personal joy for the pensioners concerned was irrelevant and described her statements regarding the pensions as hypocritical. In addition, the minister is accused of making a pension cut and justifying herself with excuses. The claim that the budget was to blame was rejected by Belakovich, since tax money would also be spent on questionable projects.

Criticism of announcements and lack of solutions

In the course of her explanations, Belakovich also took the announcement of discussions on the redesign of social assistance. These are a "mockery of the citizens" who urgently needed help. In addition, she referred to the quotas for older employees, who described it as a bureaucratic burden on companies. "We don't need new burdens, but concrete solutions," emphasized Belakovich and demanded that Schumann resign.

The FPÖ is ready to take responsibility and to shape a policy for the citizens, initiated by working with Herbert Kickl. These political discussions and statements take place against the background of health and social challenges, in front of which many citizens are facing, especially in the current inflation situation.

Government measures on social policy

However, the government has announced measures to create clear performance incentives and increase the working hours worked. For this purpose, overtime and surcharges should be favored for tax purposes. For the labor market service (AMS), more funds for short -time work, work foundations and a skilled worker offensive are planned: 230 million euros for the year 2025, followed by a further 100 million euros in 2026 and an additional 20 million euros from 2027. In addition, a "social assistance new" is to be developed with a uniform daily rate that is discussed with the social partners.

In addition, the government plans to initiate steps to fight poverty, including a "basic child security" to halve child poverty by 2030. Access to social benefits for immigrants is also reformed; Full performance should only be granted after a waiting period of up to three years. This long-term strategy is embedded in the social framework conditions, which are coordinated by the Member States at the national level as well as by the EU guidelines.

The EU's competencies in the social area are limited because national governments decide on employment and social policy. Nevertheless, the EU plays a role by promoting exchange and proven procedures for combating poverty and social integration. The EU's social dimension has become more important over the years, and various instruments have been developed to coordinate the social policy of the Member States. At the end of 2017, the European pillar of social rights was proclaimed, which is intended to secure new rights for citizens and is based on 20 basic principles.

The political situation remains tense and it becomes clear that both the government and the opposition are faced with the challenge of fulfilling the needs of citizens and presenting concrete solutions in a timely manner.