Young voices in the National Council: Paul Stich and Sophie Wotschke in an interview

Young voices in the National Council: Paul Stich and Sophie Wotschke in an interview

In an exciting development, the newly elected National Council meets for the first time on October 24, 2024, and there are two young MPs who could enrich the image of Austrian politics with fresh wind. Paul Stich from the SPÖ and Sophie Wotschke from the Neos, at the age of 26, the two youngest members of the National Council. In an interview in the FM4 Studio, they commented on their expectations and challenges in the new role.

The discussion about the composition of the National Council shows that it does not really reflect the diversity of the population. The proportion of women is only 36.6 percent, while women in the Austrian total population make up 50.7 percent. In addition, the last National Council has an average age of 51.4 years, which illustrates the large gap between the younger generation and the parliament.

The first steps in the National Council

for Paul Stich, district council in Vienna-Floridsdorf and chairman of the socialist youth, the entry into the parliament feels like the beginning of a new school year. Sophie Wotschke, Chair of Junos, also describes the feeling as exciting. Both have a buddy system that helps them find their way around their new roles. According to your buddy, Yannick Shetty, you will receive basic tips for building up your offices and the structure of your work. A new challenge is to start the task without an official welcome letter, which seems confusing for some at first glance.

The reactions of friends and acquaintances to their move to the National Council are mixed. While Paul stabs that his friends were initially surprised, Sophie Wotschke feels that her political friends understand and support the importance of her appointment. Both MPs have the feeling that their role must now be taken seriously, although the humor and carefree from their youth should not be lost.

young votes in the National Council

Both newcomers to the National Council have clear ideas about which topics they want to tackle. Stich sees itself as a representative of the young generation and recognizes the need to address important topics such as climate protection, education and housing issues. "Residential policy is a central question for many young people. Rents increase faster than wages, which makes it difficult for young people to live independently," said Stich in the interview.

Sophie Wotschke emphasizes that many young people do not have the same opportunities as previous generations. She sees it as her task to restore the promise of equal opportunities. "We have to rethink the educational reform since 1962. It is crucial that we treat our young people the best possible training, because this is the only way to be prepared for their future," she says.

In the financial discussion, both MPs have highlighted their new salary, which is almost 10,000 euros gross. While Sophie Wotschke feels this as a development that corresponds to her passion, Paul Stich is prepared to use part of his salary for social purposes. "I will cover my content on an average level and use the rest for social projects," he reveals.

The upcoming legislature will show how Paul Stich and Sophie Wotschke will use their positions to strengthen the voice of the younger generations in Austrian politics. "We are here to initiate real changes, and I hope that we will soon see progress towards a fair and just politics," summarizes Stich.

For further insights into the thoughts and challenges of these young politicians, See the article on fm4.orf.at .