ÖVP Labor and Economy Minister Martin Kocher has applied for the post of national bank governor, which will be vacant next year.
“This is a task where you have important opportunities to positively shape Austria, Europe and the region,” Kocher told “Kronen Zeitung” (Tuesday edition). He will not be on the ÖVP federal list for the National Council elections in the autumn.
The current National Bank governor is Robert Holzman, whose contract runs until the end of August 2025. The fact that the work has already been publicized has led to criticism from the opposition, which accuses the government of wanting to make up the facts before the National Council elections. . The most important member of the National Bank's leadership is Harald Mahrer, President of the Austrian Economic Chamber.
FPÖ accuses ÖVP of “dishonest action”.
Criticism of Kocher's work plans came immediately from the FPÖ: “This work is the next dishonest step of the ÖVP to negotiate on an open platform. “It's a side note that the Greens are participating in this game,” complained FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafeneker. He asked that the ordering work be stopped.
Regarding the current debate on extending the standard working hours to 41 hours, the Labor Minister clarified: “What I have always opposed is a statutory change to the standard working hours. In my opinion, it should be.
To improve transparency regarding high supermarket prices, Kocher said retail chains should provide data to price comparison sites via an interface. It is currently in “political integration”.
