Austrian Elections & Politics 3.0 - Parliamentary Election: Oct. 15

[Tender Branson]

Austrian Social Democrats drop ban on coalitions with far right

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https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-austria-politics-idUKKBN1951B6

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Austrian far right says it can work with Social Democrats' coalition terms

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-austria-politics-idUSKBN19711K

[Tender Branson]

A first Kern-poster was also presented at his press conference:

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[Tender Branson]

Kern and Kurz both visited (2 different) hospitals today (Kurz was also in a retirement home):







Health care and old-age-care and how to maintain/improve the high-quality care while keeping it solvent with an ageing society will be major campaign topics.

[rob in cal]

  One possible long term effect of a FPO-SPO coalition might be its effects in other European countries.  If a Social Democratic party in one country could make a coalition with a Right-Populist party, why not elsewhere?  It might serve as a sort of test model for elsewhere, and would go a long way toward making right populist parties more acceptable, and also settle down the anti-fa type protestors.
    If it leads to the SPO going to the right on immigration and gaining working class voters as a result, that too might be a model for those parties on the left that still want to be rooted in the working class.
   Seem to me the FPO would have to be gaining something special from the SPO for them to want to do this however, instead of working with the OVP which probably would make more sense on a lot of issues for them.

[ApatheticAustrian]

this coalition would only make sense in a country without real alternatives. if any far-right populist party gety 30% of the vote in a parliamentarian system, they are going to govern.

[Tender Branson]

A new "Profil" magazine poll out today shows that 70% of Austrians now support gay marriage, with 22% opposed. 8% are undecided.

https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20170617_OTS0001/profil-umfrage-70-befuerworten-verpartnerung-am-standesamt

That's a new record high for this topic in a poll. Today is also the gay pride parade in Vienna.

[Tender Branson]

Today is also the gay pride parade in Vienna.

With a crowd of 150.000 so far.

Chancellor Kern (SPÖ), Ulrike Lunacek (Green frontrunner) and Matthias Strolz (NEOS-leader) will deliver some speeches.

There's also a counter-event, called "March for the Family" - but no important politicians are attending it. Kurz, Strache, etc. are staying out of it.

[Tender Branson]

On Friday/Saturday, a very interesting event will take place in Krimml - which is not far away from here (50km).

It's the so-called "Alpine Peace Crossing". And more exactly, its 70th anniversary.

It includes a visit and speech by President Van der Bellen, a podium discussion and a documentary about National-Socialism in the district of Pinzgau (where Zell am See is located).

It is followed by the actual crossing of the mountains to Italy on Saturday.

What is the Alpine Peace Crossing ?

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http://alpinepeacecrossing.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/05/Programm-11.-APC-EN.pdf

I'm not sure if I can make it to the discussion, because it already starts at 5pm - but it would be great. Maybe I could take a picture with VdB as well.

[Tender Branson]

It should be noted that VdB is not really popular in the area where he'll visit on Friday/Saturday.

The Krimml area and surrounding towns of the Alpine Peace Crossing to remember the Jewish Exodus from 1947 all voted for Hofer with 60-73%.

In both rounds ...

[Kingpoleon]

Interview with Strache (FPÖ): "Norbert Hofer would be a great foreign minister."

http://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5232847/Strache_Norbert-Hofer-waere-ein-guter-Aussenminister

Strache continues to concern me with his rhetoric.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Kurz more moderate than most of his party?

[Tender Branson]

Interview with Strache (FPÖ): "Norbert Hofer would be a great foreign minister."

http://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5232847/Strache_Norbert-Hofer-waere-ein-guter-Aussenminister

Strache continues to concern me with his rhetoric.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Kurz more moderate than most of his party?

What exactly concerns you with Strache saying Hofer would make a good foreign minister ?

Also, Kurz is not much different than older ÖVPers - he just brands himself as "new", but has the same conservative views.

[Tender Branson]

SPÖ, ÖVP and Greens have agreed on the education reform today, which was worked on for the past few years.

Because changes to education need a constitutional 2/3 majority, the Greens needed to come on board.

The detailed reform plan will be announced at a press conference soon, but some leaks have already emerged such as giving schools more autonomy in hiring and firing teachers and transforming the state of Vorarlberg into a model-region with expanded all-day comprehensive schools.

https://derstandard.at/2000059453650/Bildungsreform-Regierung-einigt-sich-mit-den-Gruenen

[Tender Branson]

Holy-moly ...

After the education reform agreement today, SPÖ+ÖVP also agreed on the health care reform today:

http://derstandard.at/2000059460177/Primaerversorgung-SPOe-und-OeVP-sind-sich-einig

They agreed on the creation of 75 additional primary care clusters/networks - which are planned to relieve the regular doctors in each town as well as the ER departments in urban hospitals, which rencently started to burst with people - especially over the weekends.

These centers will have vaorious doctors in them, ranging from pediatricians to psychologists and other specialists.

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The question remains: Why do we need early elections in Oct. when SPÖVP can get things done ?

[ApatheticAustrian]

ofc to make sure, the övp wins an election - there is no other reason.

[Tender Branson]

A very misogynistic letter has been sent to NEOS-MP Claudia Gamon, who recently argued in parliament for free contraception, paid for by the state (something that Austria still lacks, because for the ÖVP contraception is exclusively a private matter - like abortions - which are also not covered by health insurance and have to be paid privately):

[Tender Branson]

The desperate FPÖ has found a new campaign gimmick: a 10% surplus-tax for refugees who found work.

http://derstandard.at/2000059504125/FPOe-fordert-zehnprozentige-Sondersteuer-fuer-Fluechtlinge

Not only do constitutional experts think this is unconstitutional, but it also reminds me of the Jewish wealth tax that was introduced by the Nazis.

Also, this is what Norbert Hofer said a few days ago in an interview:

"On the whole we do not like new taxes," Hofer said, adding that since the inheritance tax plan was aimed at funding public healthcare, that could be achieved through savings instead.

"There is great potential in terms of possibilities to make means available by better organizing the state," he added.

[TheSaint250]

The desperate FPÖ has found a new campaign gimmick: a 10% surplus-tax for refugees who found work.

http://derstandard.at/2000059504125/FPOe-fordert-zehnprozentige-Sondersteuer-fuer-Fluechtlinge

Not only do constitutional experts think this is unconstitutional, but it also reminds me of the Jewish wealth tax that was introduced by the Nazis.

Also, this is what Norbert Hofer said a few days ago in an interview:

"On the whole we do not like new taxes," Hofer said, adding that since the inheritance tax plan was aimed at funding public healthcare, that could be achieved through savings instead.

"There is great potential in terms of possibilities to make means available by better organizing the state," he added.

How do you think this will be received?

[Tender Branson]

How do you think this will be received?

The desperate FPÖ hasn't been in the news much as of late. So this is an attempt to grab some attention. It's not damaging for them really, because if for example the SPÖ, Greens etc. take it up to attack them, it could backfire - because the FPÖ could point towards the Left as being way too much in favour of the refugees and immigrants and therefore motivate the FPÖ voters again. On the other hand, the Left (SPÖ, Greens) could use it for their own motivation if they point to the Nazi resemblance. Bottom line: it will probably last a few days and then disappear again.

[Tender Branson]

VdB gave an interview to the ORF yesterday, in which he was asked about swearing in the FPÖ in the next government either as senior or junior coalition partner.

And he replied that he's currently "observing" the FPÖ and that he thinks the FPÖ has become more pro-European over the past year, not talking about an Auxit anymore because the opinion is clearly against it with 3/4 opposed.

He's probably looking for some arguments to swear them in after Oct. 15, because it's almost inevitable.

[Tender Branson]

Some important news about the almost-politically-bankrupt "Team Stronach":

The 85-year old Frank Stronach has already pulled out of his project, won't fund the party anymore and said the party will have to find a new name without the "Stronach" in it.

Therefore, the new name for the election will likely be "Team for Austria."

The name "Team Austria" cannot be taken because it already belongs to a well-known volunteer group after natural disasters (Team Österreich).

And more importantly, Robert Lugar won't lead the party into the election either ...

It is speculated that the TfA will soon present the radical columnist of the "Krone" newspaper and attorney, Dr. Tassilo Wallentin, as their frontrunner.



http://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5228508/Team-Stronach-sucht-neuen-Spitzenkandidaten

Wallentin has declined to be their frontrunner.

It seems Robert Lugar himself will lead the party into the election.

And according to "Heute" newspaper, their new name will be "The Reformers".

http://derstandard.at/2000059571014/Stronach-Klubchef-Lugar-will-als-Spitzenkandidat-antreten

[ApatheticAustrian]

a shame.

wallentin would have been the major krone-candidate and could have used his large krone-fanbase.

lugar is a goner, good for the fpö.

[Tender Branson]

Here is the SPÖ's plan on future investments and tax reforms (left) and how to counter-finance it with revenues (right):



The SPÖ plans:

* a tax-free minimum-wage of 1500€ a month (in US-terms, that's 13$ per hour).
* reducing wage costs for companies
* 5000 additional teachers
* 2500 additional police
* free guaranteed child care spots from age 1 onwards
* scrapping the care-regress for old people + more money for mobile care services

And how to counter-finance all of this ?

* robot tax
* combat tax evasion of large companies
* inheritance tax for assets over 1 million €
* cuts to various federal/state subsidies
* cuts in federal/state administration
* self-financing via a better economy
* more tax revenues from the minimum wage

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Meanwhile, the ÖVP will present their tax and investment plans in September - but Kurz's plans are worth 14 (!) billion € annually and nobody knows how he plans to counter-finance them ...

[DavidB.]

Combating tax evasion of large companies isn't going to raise a billion and a "robot tax" sounds like an incredibly retrograde, luddite policy that will do little to help Austria. Though it's also not as if the ÖVP's reckless cuts are good policy -- but I had hoped for something better on the part of the SPÖ.

How is healthcare organized? How high are co-payments, if any?

[Tender Branson]

Combating tax evasion of large companies isn't going to raise a billion and a "robot tax" sounds like an incredibly retrograde, luddite policy that will do little to help Austria. Though it's also not as if the ÖVP's reckless cuts are good policy -- but I had hoped for something better on the part of the SPÖ.

How is healthcare organized? How high are co-payments, if any?

Robot taxes and tax evasion measures of large companies such as Google, Apple etc. are part of most Social Democratic party platforms in Europe, right ?

Healthcare in Austria is decentralized, with 9 state healthcare carriers and several others based on professional branches such as farmers, self-employed etc.

Austrian healthcare providers are generally producing surpluses each year and have more than 3 Bio. € in assets and savings.

Certain co-payments exist, but it really depends what area or medical procedure you are talking about. I'm certainly no doctor or expert on this. But 99.9% of the population is covered by the healthcare system, with the remaining 0.1% (mostly homeless people, who refuse to sleep in shelters etc.) being treated for free in certain institutions.

[Tender Branson]

SPÖ+ÖVP have agreed on the 2 Bio. € job bonus for companies who hire previously unemployed workers, which will start on July 1.

This comes after a weeks-long check if this job bonus meets EU-requirements, because it mostly benefits unemployed with a previous Austrian job or education, rather than foreigners.

This was a major part of Kern's "Plan A". Good for him that this now becomes law (will be passed in parliament next week).