Hanger: FPÖ has to take responsibility for budget drama!

Hanger: FPÖ has to take responsibility for budget drama!

Österreich - On May 22, 2025, ÖVP budget spokesman Andreas Hanger emphasizes the urgency of a comprehensive budget consolidation in order to ensure the stability of state finances. In a clear appeal, Hanger demands strengthening inner-Austrian stability pact and the consistent compliance with the Maastricht criteria, which are of considerable importance for all member states of the EU. "The FPÖ must take its responsibility seriously and instead of just criticizing their own solutions," said Hanger, who criticizes the negative attitude of the FPÖ for the current budget, although their representatives were involved in the negotiations. The double budget 2025/26 is currently in the budget committee and the National Council is planning to decide in mid -June.

Currently work on the basis of a budget provisorium, while necessary legislative steps have to be initiated for both the double budget and for the accompanying budget law. Hanger thanked the ministries involved, namely Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer and State Secretary Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, for the quick processing of the legislative measures.

budget consolidation as a target

The Federal Government with the budgets for 2025 and 2026 as well as the federal financial framework heralded the renovation of state finances by 2029. The goal is a sustainable budgetary trend reversal, which is to be realized in a challenging economic environment. For consolidation, a total of 6.4 billion euros for 2025 and 8.7 billion euros for 2026 is planned for consolidation.

The Maastricht criteria that were defined in the Maastricht Treaty stipulate that the public deficit of a state must not exceed 3 % of gross domestic product (GDP). Statistics Austria calculates this deficit in accordance with the criteria of the European system of economic overall accounts (ESVG 2010). For 2025, a Maastricht deficit of 4.5 % of GDP is predicted; In 2026 this is to be reduced to 4.2 %.

sustainable financial strategy by 2029

Without the planned renovation measures, the deficit would have risen to 5.8 % in 2025 and 5.9 % in 2026. The measures of federal financing are to reduce the Maastricht deficit to 2.98 % of GDP by 2028, which is just below the critical 3.0 % mark. The forecast debt rate initially increases to 84.7 % of GDP for 2025 and 86.2 % for 2026, but then stabilizes and is supposed to decrease again by 2029.

The disagreements between the political parties illustrate the challenges that the government faces. In order to achieve the financial goals and at the same time to comply with the Maastricht criteria, extensive efforts and a joint procedure are still required. The next few weeks will be decisive to see whether the parties, especially the FPÖ, are looking for dialogue and actively participate in a solution. All eyes are aimed at the consultations in the budget committee and the upcoming votes in the National Council.

The current developments on the budget situation and the financial framework can be used on the pages of the BMF Austria] (https://www.statistik.at/statistiken/volkswirtschaft-und-oeffliche-finance/oeffliche-finance/maastlicht-indicator/Oeffliches-defizit/Oefflererünschnot) are tracked in order to keep an eye on the financial indicators and analyze the effects on the Austrian economy.