Protest against cuts: 2,000 Styrians are calling for more social help!

Protest against cuts: 2,000 Styrians are calling for more social help!

On Tuesday, around 2,000 people protested in Graz against the drastic cuts in the funding for social institutions in Styria. Laut oe24 versammelten sich die Demonstranten um 18:00 Uhr auf dem Mariahilferplatz. The protest, organized by the #Socaallandretten initiative, criticized the elimination of support and the cancellation of numerous projects for around 40 social organizations that work in the areas of social welfare, violence, integration, poverty control and anti -discrimination.

The announced cuts that have been decided since June 13 and come into force from July amount to around 2.5 million euros for the entire year. Nora Tödtling Musenbichler, the director of Caritas, called for an immediate crisis summit with the state government. "Less help, less social, less integration and human tragedies," she warned, emphasizing the precarious situation in which the affected institutions are located.

protest and demands

The solidarity train led from Mariahilferplatz via the Keplerbrücke and Geidorfplatz to the Freedomplace, where the final rally took place around 8:15 p.m. Irina Karamarković, chair of the Migrant Advisory Board, expressed concern about the lack of support for advice and protection. Vinzwerke spokeswoman Svjetlana Wisiak praised the "solidarity of the 2,000 people" and the decisive importance of these protests for the social landscape of Styria.

Daniela Grabovac, spokeswoman for the anti -discrimination agency Styria, emphasized that social progress can be measured in the treatment of disadvantaged people. The participants called for an immediate crisis summit to avoid irreversible damage to the social infrastructure, since the cuts could threaten the existence of some organizations.

background of the incisions

The massive reduction of funding is part of a trend that is increasingly stressing the social infrastructure in Austria. An analysis of the WIFO, which was presented in the 2024 social report, mentions the need for stable social services to effectively combat poverty. Wifo economist Silvia Rocha-Akis found that a poverty-resistant social infrastructure and benefits are decisive for the well-being of the population.

Long-term investments in educational, health and care offers as well as support for residential issues are necessary to prevent poverty in society. Access to education and promoting children and families are particularly important to compensate for differences in competence and reduce the risk of poverty. These challenges are exacerbated by the cuts that are now in force in Styria.

The organizations concerned, which have been commissioning for the weakest members of society on behalf of the public sector for decades, are now confronted with a serious existence. A rethink on the part of politics is required to counteract social dismantling and strengthen the solidarity community.

summarized the protestation is not only an expression of dissatisfaction with the current cuts, but also an urgent appeal to those responsible to protect and expand the social infrastructure of Styria. The call for a crisis summit with the state government could be the first step in the direction of a more sustainable and more solidarity social policy.