In a press conference today, Saturday, SPÖ federal party leader Andreas Babler commented on the ÖVP’s termination of government negotiations and criticized the ÖVP. “The ÖVP has broken off government negotiations with us and that is not good news for our country. We offered solutions to all open points, but in the end, the wing of the ÖVP that had flirted with the Blues from the start prevailed today. That wing that believes it can carry on as before,” said Babler. Nehammer might have moved, but his party simply did not give him this freedom of movement. “The ÖVP is not aware of what is now threatening,” said Babler. ****
“We have made it clear that there is a need for state responsibility, for us to work together and for the willingness to take countermeasures to the major challenges,” said Babler, who at today’s talks once again highlighted the upcoming challenges, from the budget hole of 18 billion euros to the shrinking economy and company closures to the exploding unemployment has made clear. “We are convinced that we have a political responsibility to take quick and decisive countermeasures. I therefore offered Karl Nehammer to negotiate throughout the entire weekend in the interests of the country. Because the last few weeks shouldn’t have been in vain.” There were many hours of discussions and arguments, “and I was convinced that we would be able to find a solution to the last open points, because we have made progress – for example in the areas of integration , labor market and education. That’s why I made it clear again today that we as the SPÖ are of course prepared to make compromises, because negotiations cannot be a one-way street. Karl Nehammer understood this, I would like to thank him expressly. The forces that ultimately prevailed didn’t want that.”
The SPÖ leader emphasized that there is no question that the budget needs to be restructured. “It was clear to us: everyone had to make a contribution. This won’t be easy, especially for a social democracy. But all also means: everyone – even those who have made record net profits in recent years, such as the banks with a profit of 34 billion euros. We wanted measures that would also help in terms of revenue to fairly rehabilitate the enormous budget hole and to be able to start future projects,” said Babler, who emphasized that the SPÖ did not insist on wealth taxes, but rather offered alternatives.
“But the ÖVP was not prepared to think together about a fair design of the budget restructuring, about a balanced restructuring with scope for projects,” said Babler. “We were unable to agree with the ÖVP that affordable housing is worth more than the profits of real estate companies. We could not agree that affordable energy prices are worth more than stock prices and dividends. We were unable to agree that those who particularly benefit would also make their fair contribution. The ÖVP understood ‘everyone’ who has to make a contribution to mean exclusively employees and pensioners,” said Babler.
The ÖVP wanted salary cuts for teachers, nurses and police officers for two years in a row. The ÖVP wanted to reduce the pensions of all pensioners for three years in a row and increase the statutory retirement age to 67. The ÖVP wanted to cut spending in the health sector – 20 percent in hospitals alone. “These are points that the SPÖ simply cannot support. Especially not when the ÖVP insists that those who have particularly benefited in recent years do not contribute,” said the SPÖ chairman. The loss in pensions would mean a loss of 20,000 euros for everyone who retires today, while others avoid making their contribution.
“I understand if many people are disappointed and angry today. I’m disappointed too. State responsibility is not a political game,” said Babler, who made it clear: “The SPÖ will continue to be a strong voice for social policy, because we know what is threatening: blue-black and with it a right-wing extremist chancellor who will endanger our democracy, pension cuts in the on a grand scale, dismantling of the social system and cuts to the detriment of the vast majority. The SPÖ has done everything to give our country a positive direction and to be able to save us from this.”
SERVICE: More about the end of the government negotiations and a video statement from SPÖ leader Andreas Babler at spoe.at/weiter (final) bj/mb