Government program in front of the government: Kickl speaks of blackmail!

Government program in front of the government: Kickl speaks of blackmail!

Austria is on the verge of a political change: FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl was critical on Thursday about the presentation of a so-called “government program” that was presented shortly before the final government was formed. According to Kickl, it is strange to talk about a program before a real government exists. The approval of the NEOS general meeting, which meets on Sunday, remains uncertain, which calls the future of the coalition pact into question. Kickl even called the coalition's actions an “open attempt at blackmail” to put pressure on the NEOS base to agree oe24 reports.

The new government program

The new coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS nevertheless finalized the government program, which was presented on Friday. ÖVP leader Christian Stocker, who will move into the Chancellery on Monday, will focus his agenda on the topics of “hard work, family and security”. A central element of the program is the intended ban on headscarves for girls under the age of 14, which is being taken up again following a ruling by the Constitutional Court in 2020. The law against political Islam is also introduced, making criminal prosecution a criminal offence. Other important points include the introduction of a compulsory second year of kindergarten and a reform of educational leave, which should be more oriented towards further training in the future Young Freedom reports.

The measures also aim to make living in Austria affordable. Rents are expected to remain stable until the end of 2025, while caps on future rent increases will be set from 2026. The government also plans to temporarily stop family reunification for migrants from third countries and to set up return centers for rejected asylum seekers in order to ensure their deportation. “We want a safe and stable Austria,” said Stocker. However, the discussions surrounding ministerial posts, particularly in the Ministry of Finance, continue to be intense. In a political climate full of uncertainty, it remains to be seen how the new plans will be received by party members.