Secret negotiations: Where does the Austro-Stampel really stand?

Secret negotiations: Where does the Austro-Stampel really stand?

Wien, Österreich - Negotiations on the Austro-Stampel are in a crucial phase and go into the third week on Monday. The negotiation teams report progress in various working groups, whereby the first agreements have already been made, such as . However, the exact content of the talks remain in the dark because the negotiations are secret. In particular, party leader Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), SPÖ boss Andreas Babler and Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger have to appear on Monday for the report with Federal President Alexander van der Bellen to report on the state of affairs.

The exact direction of the coalition talks remains unclear, especially with regard to the financial challenges. According to OE24 , the budget of up to 23 billion euros is a central point of dispute. While SPÖ and NEOS are calling for an agreement on wealth taxes, the ÖVP decides a tax increase. However, ÖVP boss Nehammer has recently not excluded tax increases, which causes unrest. Transitional finance minister Gunter Mayr emphasizes that no new taxes are needed, while the Lower Austrian ÖVP insists on relief to boost the economy.

The coming days will be crucial for the Austro-Stampel because the negotiators try to find a common line. The first results of the subgroups are to be compiled this week, which will then be forwarded to the chief negotiators for further discussion. The pressure increases because the time is pushing and the population is eagerly awaiting specific results of the coalition negotiations.