Vienna — NEOS party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger has reaffirmed her support for Austria’s €6.4 billion austerity plan, signaling no deviation from the current fiscal course despite criticism and growing public concern, reported by Puls 24.
Speaking on Saturday, Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that although the plan was initially designed to avoid triggering EU deficit procedures, it now merely meets the European Commission’s minimum expectations. Backing her stance, Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler and Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (both SPÖ) also ruled out increasing the savings target.
The Fiscal Council forecasts a 4.4% budget deficit this year. Meinl-Reisinger warned that if the current measures prove insufficient, additional cuts will be necessary.
Calling for deep structural reforms, she proposed giving Austria’s federal states greater tax autonomy, criticizing the current centralised system and its inefficient fiscal redistribution, particularly in areas like healthcare. “Too many hands lead to too little accountability,” she said, highlighting systemic waste and blurred responsibility.
She also raised concerns over transparency, criticizing the delayed release of fiscal data from local and regional governments. “It’s unacceptable that these figures surfaced only at the end of March,” she said, urging the government to fix the process.
On messenger service surveillance, Meinl-Reisinger maintained a cautious tone. NEOS, she said, is committed to crafting a constitutionally sound solution, ensuring civil liberties remain protected during the legislative process.
Finally, she distanced her party from the nomination of ex-Chancellor Karl Nehammer to the European Investment Bank, noting that NEOS was not involved in the decision, which did not pass through the coalition or cabinet.
