With the “Plan for Austria” Nehhammer wants to show where the ÖVP stands. Among the proposals in the 82-page “Austria Plan” are a reduction in the input tax rate from 20 to 15 percent, the abolition of all taxes on overtime and a 4.5 billion euro plan to expand childcare by 2030. Own a home in Austria by 2030, and half a million owners.
In addition, Nehhammer wants to create 800 new cash register positions during this period, reduce additional wage costs, stop “regulatory madness” and reward everyone working full-time with 1,000 euros. Nehhammer wants to connect ecology with economics. Road construction should not be neglected. Because the new technology cars have to drive somewhere, as the ÖVP boss mentioned.
“Year of Decision”
Another focus is security – from increased defense budgets to fighting terrorism. The fight against irregular migration also plays an important role in Nehämmer's plan. It says new holistic solutions are needed in the European asylum system by 2030. Apart from deportations and processing centers abroad, correctional facilities abroad should also be explored.
Social benefits for immigrants should be available only after five years, and the chancellor also clarified what he expects from them: “In my understanding, integration is adaptation.”
The ÖVP leader emphasized the importance of this year in his introductory words: “This year 2024 is a decisive year.” He stands for creation and thus against those who stand for destruction. It was probably addressed to FPÖ leader Herbert Gikl, whose party was already targeted for attack in the preliminary plan. It's about “shaping or splitting,” Nehhammer said at the end of his speech here as “the most important question of our future” and again about a “year of decision,” this time with a postscript: “The decision between him and me.” .
Nehhammer presents the “Austrian Plan”.
ÖVP leader and Federal Chancellor Karl Nehhammer presented his “Austrian Plan” in a speech in Wells on Friday. Nehammer focused on several “codes” including performance, family, health, and safety. Nehammer described the upcoming super election year as a “testing year” and a “decision year”.
Stalker calls the gig a “failure.”
A large part of the black government group and almost all ÖVP state governors and party luminaries from the past came to the Wells trade fair: from former party leader Joseph Broll to former presidential candidates Andreas Kohl and Benita Ferrero to former state governors Erwin Broll, Joseph Buehringer and Waldrot Klassnick. Waldner.
At the opening, the governor of Upper Austria, Thomas Stelzer, welcomed the guests, praising Nehhammer as a statesman and implementer and dismissing them as “unrealistic little dreamers with weaknesses in execution” and “bitter rebels”. “That's why you should be the federal president and nobody else,” Stelzer said.
Mikl-Leitner: “A strong voice for the broad medium”
General secretary Christian Stocker, club president August Wokinger and youth state secretary Claudia Blacome also had their say in a moderate speech, which included detailed criticism of Gicliffe, which Stocker described as a “failure” – as well as a few swipes at SPÖ party leader Andreas. Poplar.
The governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP), gave Nehhammer full support: “a strong voice for the broad majority of the center in times when the radical fringes are increasingly loud” – more on this in the future . ORF.at.
Poplar: “Marriage Proposal” from ÖVP to FPÖ
The speech and the “Austria Plan” met with much criticism. SPÖ leader Popler saw this as a “marriage proposal” from the ÖVP to the FPÖ. NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger saw the ÖVP as dysfunctional, tired and corrupt, and saw the Freedom Party as being used as a “copy machine” by FPÖ ideas. Vice Chancellor Werner Koegler (Greens) identified “a lot of old thinking from the right-wing conservative party” in ZIB1.
Many criticisms from opposition parties
ÖVP leader Karl Nehhammer's speech on the “Austrian plan” was followed with skepticism by the opposition – SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS were not happy about it.
Popler said at a press conference that the president's announcement at the end of the legislative term that he wanted to improve was “a joke.” He pointed out that the ÖVP probably wanted to distract from its own failures, such as inflation and a shortage of teachers and skilled workers. He confirmed that the People's Party would accept being the junior partner in a coalition with the FPÖ after the next election. The FPÖ wants to run itself to prevent such a coalition, as it threatens the cornerstones of democracy. But the hand is extended to the ÖVP. However, Popler said that basic democratic attitudes were “largely questioned” during the speech, and something must change within the ÖVP first.
Strong reviews from NEOS as well
NEOS' rating is similarly negative. “What can you tell about the future of someone who fails in the present?” Secretary-General Douglas Hoyos accused the president of being untrustworthy. The ÖVP has been in the Economy Ministry for nearly four decades and now wants “regime change” in economic policy. Before the speech, Meinl-Reisinger had already anticipated a “warming up to the FPÖ” and had once called for snap new elections.
FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafeneker saw in the speech a “citizen deception ploy”; According to him, Nehammer is a “bad crisis denier with no future as president.” Tobias Schweiger looks on as the KPÖ's leading candidate in the National Council elections. Confirmation in text, “ÖVP not interested in affordable housing.”
Speculation on early elections
The ÖVP started its election campaign, at least unofficially, with the Nehhammer speech in Wales. In this context, rumors have been circulating recently that the National Council elections could be moved from autumn to early summer. Speculation has also included a tie-up with EU elections on June 9, although the ÖVP and the Greens have so far officially denied plans to bring the election forward. Finally, Nehhammer made no comment on this in his speech in Wells on Friday evening.
