Crisis in the town hall: Vienna is fighting for the budget - savings in minimum security!
Crisis in the town hall: Vienna is fighting for the budget - savings in minimum security!
Wien, Österreich - The debate about minimum security in Vienna is becoming increasingly complex and controversial. Against the background of a significant budget hole, the city government pleads for urgent reforms. While Vienna plans to set their own impulses, numerous political actors and analysts observe the discussion about minimum security with concern. Oe24.at reports that the new city government under Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and Mayor Bettina Emmerling (Neos) in a federal unit Regulation urges to counter the challenges of the current financial situation.
An internal letter from the interim financial city council Christoph Maschek from November 2024, published in the , already outlined the need to save in the areas Social and health. "The current financing system can no longer be maintained," says Maschek. The opposition, in particular ÖVP and FPÖ, criticizes the amount of the minimum security, which in its opinion is not compatible with the federal law requirements.
savings and political resistance
In view of the sought savings,The question arises as to how specific these measures should look like. So far, there is no clear idea, which is why the city government has to look for alternative approaches. Both ÖVP boss Markus Figl and FPÖ chairman Dominik Nepp call for a fundamental realignment of the system and want the minimum security to be linked to Austrian citizenship. This happens against the background of a case in which a large Syrian family with eleven children receives 9,000 euros in government support per month. Such cases cause public outrage and increase the pressure on the city government.
The social councilor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) pointed out that the business groups have to do with their budget and that savings in public administration are generally necessary. This reflects the consensus within the city government, which is aimed at the financial framework conditions that are influenced by the Basic Social Welfare Act (SH-GG) and the corresponding regulations of the federal states. The statutory provisions should be implemented gradually by January 1, 2025, as on oesterreich.gv.at
reform needs in the field of vision
A central problem is the increasing costs of minimum security, which, according to a report by the "Kronen Zeitung", will increase considerably for 2026. The city is forced to save in other budget areas or to change legal framework conditions in order to counter these additional costs. This is not only a problem for Vienna, but also shows itself in other federal states that have to drive the implementation of the SH-GG in order to meet the requirements of the Constitutional Court.
Overall, Vienna is in a transition phase in which a rigorous review of the social support systems is in the foreground. The pressure to succeed in the new city government is high and will be reinforced by the internal votes at the NEOS next Saturday, as well as the necessary approval of the SPÖ bodies on Wednesday. Even if nobody is currently expecting a negative result, it remains to be seen how the political actors will react to the challenges.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Ort | Wien, Österreich |
| Quellen | |
Kommentare (0)