ÖVP and FPÖ: Successful balance sheet and new challenges in Lower Austria!

ÖVP and FPÖ: Successful balance sheet and new challenges in Lower Austria!

When looking at the current political landscape in Lower Austria, the ÖVP and FPÖ show a positive balance of the past few years. Country chief Johanna Mikl-Leitner from the ÖVP and Vice Udo Landbauer from the FPÖ reported that more than half of their work agreement was processed before the current legislative period. According to krone.at the two parties see themselves in a "fair partnership", despite their different programs and ideologies.

A total of 2400 resolutions of the state government were accepted, 97 percent of which were unanimously caught, also in cooperation with the SPÖ. The coalition's common goals include a determined fight against radical Islam and the improvement of working conditions in Lower Austria. Landbauer also emphasizes the importance of the "asylum brake", which aims to reduce the number of asylum seekers in the state.

measures against discrimination

Another central concern of Mikl-Leitner is to combat the headscarf as a symbol of oppression. The discussion about such cultural symbols not only reflects local, but also national and international trends. Migration and their social effects are still important topics in the Austrian debate, especially in the context of integration and migration.

Austria, often associated with clichés such as Sachertorte, Mozart and the Alps, also has a multi -layered history of migration. According to [bpb.de] (https://www.bpb.de/themen/migration-integration/regionalprofile/542609/migration-und-migration policy-in-oesterreich/) Life in Vienna over 180 nationalities, and almost half of the population has a migration background. There are more than half of the residents of foreign origin in four out of 23 Vienna municipal districts.

This variety has historical roots that go back to the time of the Habsburg monarchy. In the past few decades, Austria has recorded a large number of migrants, starting with workers from Turkey and the former Yugoslavia in the 1960s to the current challenges that result from refugees from Ukraine, as reported by the ORF

The challenges of migration

The increasing number of migrants who currently make up 13.2 percent of the resident population arouses both support and resistance among the Austrian population. The issue of migration remains closely connected to the political strategies of the parties and is often used as an election campaign topic.

Despite the social challenges, it can be seen that Austria will rely on immigration in the future in order to stop the population decline. Forecasts indicate that without migration the population would shrink until the mid -2050s. The associated questions of integration and social cohesion are important for the entire society.

It becomes clear that the political decisions of today not only have local effects, but are also embedded in a larger, international context. Migration and their side effects are and remain a central topic in Austrian interior and foreign policy.