ÖVP in a luxury shock: 2200 euro handbag meets savings plans!

ÖVP in a luxury shock: 2200 euro handbag meets savings plans!

In the budgetplenum, the presentation of a luxurious handbag by the ÖVP MP Karoline Edtstadler caused excitement. This handbag comes from a renowned French Nobel brand and has a price of 2,200 euros. The FPÖ, represented by its Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz, criticized the ÖVP sharply for this waste in view of a savings package, which primarily burdens pensioners, families and working people. Schledlitz made it clear that the ÖVP has no sense of the needs of the population and that many citizens of the party turn their back on.

Schledlitz described the current government as the largest and most expensive in the history of Austria. He gave examples of high expenses, including 1.6 million euros for the so -called "bureaucracy palace" in the Foreign Ministry and two service cars for a State Secretary from the NEOs. In this context, he called for a statement by the Federal President about the grievances and recalled that Edtstadler once described people who did not want to be vaccinated against Corona, as de facto illegally described.

The change of the luxury concept

The debate about the expensive handbag also raises questions about the concept of luxury. According to an analysis, luxury is a relatively stored term that depends heavily on cultural, economic and social standards. As Werner Sombart formulated, luxury is every effort that goes beyond what is necessary. There is no objective measurement size for luxury because it manifests itself through quality and not just through quantity. This is shown not least in the need for social distress, which is closely linked to the idea of ​​luxury.

The social values ​​regarding luxury change over time. Historical criticism of luxury often refers to excess and abundance, while examples from history, such as the extravagances of the old Romans or the splendor of the Renaissance, illustrate the boundaries of the luxury at that time. In the industrial age, access to luxury items was possible thanks to the mass production of wider layers, which further shifted the definition of luxury.

sustainability and new standards

In today's society, an increasing importance of sustainability is also recognized. Luxury goods are said to be increasingly associated with ethical added value, which also becomes clear due to the trend of the "Stealth Wealth". The decency and understatement are required, while luxury objects are made of high -quality materials and in small manufacturers. The scarcity of fundamental goods and the increasing cost of living also transform our understanding of luxury; In the future, necessary goods such as water, air and safety could be focused on.

The interweaving of luxury, social values ​​and current political decisions becomes clear through the controversy about the expensive handbag and the associated social challenges. As the focus on ethical aspects shows, the concept of the luxury of constant evolution is shaped, which is also reflected in the discussion about the ÖVP and its expenses.