Escalation in the budget dispute: coalition talks threaten to fail!

Escalation in the budget dispute: coalition talks threaten to fail!

Österreich - The coalition negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos are deep in the crisis. There is a paradigm shift, because in view of a dramatic budget hole of around 15 billion euros, it becomes increasingly difficult to find a common denominator. Despite intensive discussions about a three-way coalition, the negotiations are in a tense state, reported . Chancellor Karl Nehammer has already indicated that an agreement could have failed quickly if the SPÖ continues to increase taxes, while the ÖVP relies on a strict expenditure brake.

The differences between the parties are not only shown in the budget conflict, but also in the growing political rivalry. Sepp Schellhorn from the Neos recently commented positively about a rival of the SPÖ and thus ensured additional explosives in the already tense negotiations. The surprisingly decided salary increase for public servants of an average of 3.5 percent, which the NEOs perceive as unfair, continues to fuel the tensions. The Neos politician Schellhorn expressed resentment about the procedure of SPÖ and ÖVP, which in his opinion steer the salary negotiations in their favor, so In an accelerated process, the party leader Nehammer, Babler and Beate Meinl-Reisinger should come together for a meeting this week to get the negotiations back on track. The most important agenda will be the clarification of the budget, without which no concrete measures can be decided. It remains to be seen whether the participants can present current budget numbers, which will be crucial for further development. The final statutory draft should be up to December 12th. However, critics warn that the urgency of the questions has not yet been adequately addressed while the time is pushing and the possibility of a common government is on the brink.