Austrian Elections & Politics 4.0

[Tender Branson]

   Tender, are there certain towns, regions in Austria where a lot of these super wealthy people live? And what part of Vienna do they like?

They live everywhere, but bigger concentrations of them can be found in Vienna's western parts and suburbs + other urban areas in general and in Tyrol and Salzburg (ski resorts).

But I guess many of them also live abroad.

[Tender Branson]

It is very likely that Austria will already achieve a budget surplus this year, which would be one year earlier than planned by the ÖVP-FPÖ government.

It would be the first budget surplus in Austria since 1962.

There are several reasons for that:

* The economy remains very strong, which means tax revenue of all sorts (income, VAT etc.) is up by more than 4% in the first half of 2018.

* Outlays are down because fewer people are unemployed or claim asylum

In the first half of 2018, the budget deficit was cut by 46% compared with the same period last year.

Then in July, the bad bank HETA paid back about 1.8 Bio. € to the Finance Ministry (worth 0.5% of GDP). This payment will only show up in the 2nd half.

I assume that because of these favourable developments, a surplus of 0.1-0.5% is possible this year already vs. a planned deficit of 0.3%

https://www.nachrichten.at/nachrichten/politik/innenpolitik/Sprudelnde-Steuern-weniger-Arbeitslose-und-sanierte-Banken-helfen-dem-Budget;art385,2968115

[Tender Branson]

Crazy statistics:

During July, there were 1.199 unemployed people in my district (Zell am See) and the unemployment rate was 2.8% (even lower if you count self-employed as well).

Plus, there were 1.027 job openings and 278 available apprenticeships. Which means there were more job offers than people who were unemployed ...

Now to Vienna:

Vienna had 138.543 unemployed and 11.809 job openings and 451 available apprenticeships.

Unemployment rate: 12%

[Tender Branson]

The FPÖ-led Defense Ministry is currently working on a plan about the future of Austria's air fleet.

The Eurofighter jets (which were purchased by the previous ÖVP-FPÖ government in a corrupt and way too expensive manner) will reach end-of-life by 2021.

Also, the Swedish Saab training jets from the 1970s will reach end-of-life and need to be replaced.

There's the possibility that the Eurofighter jets will be upgraded (but nobody really wants this, after Airbus screwed over previous governments with the overpriced jets).

Other scenarios include 18 new Swedish Saab Gripen or 18 new US F-16s + several new training jets.

The costs would amount to about 3 Bio. € for each version (the Swedish jets are slightly cheaper than the US jets).

For this, the chronically underfunded Austrian defense budget (only 0.5% of GDP) would have to be increased by a lot in a hypothetical 2nd ÖVP-FPÖ term ...

https://orf.at/stories/2449678/2449677

[Tender Branson]

Chancellor Kurz (ÖVP) remains by far the most popular politician in Austria, according to the latest Ö24 poll, followed by President Van der Bellen (Greens).

Foreign Minister Kneissl (Indy/FPÖ), Finance Minister Löger (ÖVP) and Infrastructure Minister Hofer (FPÖ) are also quite popular.

The most unpopular ones are Peter Pilz, FPÖ-leader Strache, Green-leader Kogler, Interior Minister Kickl (FPÖ) and Health Minister Hartinger-Klein (FPÖ).

Chart shows balance of "approve" minus "disapprove" for each politician:



Also, immigration/asylum is not the most important topic any longer for Austrian voters.

Healthcare, job fairness, security against crime, liveable rents, eduaction, fighting unemployment and tax cuts are now all ranking higher than immigration/asylum on people's minds.



https://www.oe24.at/oesterreich/politik/Umfrage-Kurz-vorn-Kern-holt-auf/343589909

[Tender Branson]

2 of the ÖVP's new young MPs in parliament, Johanna Jachs (right) and Klaus Lindinger (left), have started a summer campaign to punish fellow MPs for missing roll call votes - with a fine of 100-150€ for each missed vote:



The independent platform "addendum" has analyzed the participation of the 183 MPs in the Austrian parliament in the current parliamentary year which just ended.

There were 358 roll call votes in 32 sessions this year.

These were the MPs who voted most and least:



SPÖ-leader Kern was among the worst performing, missing 69.3% of the 358 votes.

Kern would have faced a fine of up to 37.200€ for being AWOL under the ÖVP plans.

At least Jachs and Lindinger are not hypocrites, because they were among the 10 best-performing MPs in the vote analysis ...

https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5475475/Junge-OeVPAbgeordnete-wollen-Strafen-fuer-Schwaenzer-wie-Kern

This is a fairly clever summer strategy by the Young ÖVP, because Austrians hate almost nothing more than lazy overpaid politicians ... (except maybe non-integrating foreigners).

[Tender Branson]

In the otherwise very lame summer silly-season, the FPÖ has created a massive controversy today by attacking the extremely popular Austrian singer Wolfgang Ambros (and along with him, Reinhard Fendrich).



The reason for the FPÖ's attacks on the 2 singers was an interview by Ambros to the German "Süddeutsche" newspaper, in which he said that there "are many brown (= Nazi) spots within the FPÖ and that he's alarmed of what the Austrian population might face in the next 4 years to come. It starts with attacks on foreigners, but in the end the small Austrian men and women will be the ones paying as well."

He also attacked Chancellor Kurz as someone "who turns a blind eye to the Nazi excesses from within the FPÖ" and said "I want my Chancellor to speak out clearly about these things and distance himself". He also said Kurz is in reality a "very weak Chancellor, who's only afraid that his coalition breaks down, leaving him with no other options - so he tolerates everything that comes from the FPÖ and let them dictate government work."

Today, the FPÖ called the 2 legends (Fendrich is responsible for the unofficial 2nd Austrian national anthem btw) "aging, degenerate musicians - who fell to alcohol and drugs".



https://derstandard.at/2000084836914/Ambros-kritisiert-Regierung-Mir-wird-angst-und-bange

https://derstandard.at/2000084912913/Nach-Kritik-an-Regierung-FPOe-Fans-wollen-Ambros-CDs-weghauen

[Diouf]

2 of the ÖVP's new young MPs in parliament, Johanna Jachs (right) and Klaus Lindinger (left), have started a summer campaign to punish fellow MPs for missing roll call votes - with a fine of 100-150€ for each missed vote:



The independent platform "addendum" has analyzed the participation of the 183 MPs in the Austrian parliament in the current parliamentary year which just ended.

There were 358 roll call votes in 32 sessions this year.

These were the MPs who voted most and least:



SPÖ-leader Kern was among the worst performing, missing 69.3% of the 358 votes.

Kern would have faced a fine of up to 37.200€ for being AWOL under the ÖVP plans.

At least Jachs and Lindinger are not hypocrites, because they were among the 10 best-performing MPs in the vote analysis ...

https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5475475/Junge-OeVPAbgeordnete-wollen-Strafen-fuer-Schwaenzer-wie-Kern

This is a fairly clever summer strategy by the Young ÖVP, because Austrians hate almost nothing more than lazy overpaid politicians ... (except maybe non-integrating foreigners).

The Austrian Parliament doesn't even have a clearing deal so that a proportional number of MPs can stay away from a vote? Didn't think the country was this backwards. No wonder it can't even conduct an election properly.

[Tender Branson]

2 of the ÖVP's new young MPs in parliament, Johanna Jachs (right) and Klaus Lindinger (left), have started a summer campaign to punish fellow MPs for missing roll call votes - with a fine of 100-150€ for each missed vote:



The independent platform "addendum" has analyzed the participation of the 183 MPs in the Austrian parliament in the current parliamentary year which just ended.

There were 358 roll call votes in 32 sessions this year.

These were the MPs who voted most and least:



SPÖ-leader Kern was among the worst performing, missing 69.3% of the 358 votes.

Kern would have faced a fine of up to 37.200€ for being AWOL under the ÖVP plans.

At least Jachs and Lindinger are not hypocrites, because they were among the 10 best-performing MPs in the vote analysis ...

https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5475475/Junge-OeVPAbgeordnete-wollen-Strafen-fuer-Schwaenzer-wie-Kern

This is a fairly clever summer strategy by the Young ÖVP, because Austrians hate almost nothing more than lazy overpaid politicians ... (except maybe non-integrating foreigners).

The Austrian Parliament doesn't even have a clearing deal so that a proportional number of MPs can stay away from a vote? Didn't think the country was this backwards. No wonder it can't even conduct an election properly.

The consensus among voters is that MPs (who are lazy, overpaid losers who earn 10.000€ a month) should be present and voting all the time - just like regular workers. Exemptions of course for medical reasons, but no reasons other than that.

As for the elections, there was a trial recently which led to (mild) sentences for several election officials from 2016. The problem wasn't the vote counting itself (this was done properly of course), but the fact that some election officials used to fast-track the protocolls.

[Diouf]

The Austrian Parliament doesn't even have a clearing deal so that a proportional number of MPs can stay away from a vote? Didn't think the country was this backwards. No wonder it can't even conduct an election properly.

The consensus among voters is that MPs (who are lazy, overpaid losers who earn 10.000€ a month) should be present and voting all the time - just like regular workers. Exemptions of course for medical reasons, but no reasons other than that.

As for the elections, there was a trial recently which led to (mild) sentences for several election officials from 2016. The problem wasn't the vote counting itself (this was done properly of course), but the fact that some election officials used to fast-track the protocolls.

In a more developed democracy like Denmark, the parties are smart enough to agree to let a proportional number of their MPs stay away. Normally around 50% of MPs are cleared, so they can do actual work (meeting/visiting companies, NGOs, lobby organizations, constituents, negotiating political agreements, travel abroad etc.). The exception only if there are rebels on the majority side, so that there is actually any doubt about the outcome.

[Tender Branson]

The Austrian Parliament doesn't even have a clearing deal so that a proportional number of MPs can stay away from a vote? Didn't think the country was this backwards. No wonder it can't even conduct an election properly.

The consensus among voters is that MPs (who are lazy, overpaid losers who earn 10.000€ a month) should be present and voting all the time - just like regular workers. Exemptions of course for medical reasons, but no reasons other than that.

As for the elections, there was a trial recently which led to (mild) sentences for several election officials from 2016. The problem wasn't the vote counting itself (this was done properly of course), but the fact that some election officials used to fast-track the protocolls.

In a more developed democracy like Denmark, the parties are smart enough to agree to let a proportional number of their MPs stay away. Normally around 50% of MPs are cleared, so they can do actual work (meeting/visiting companies, NGOs, lobby organizations, constituents, negotiating political agreements, travel abroad etc.). The exception only if there are rebels on the majority side, so that there is actually any doubt about the outcome.

That doesn't have a whole lot to do with "a more developed democracy like Denmark" or not ... it's more that MPs already enjoy a lot of priviledges that regular workers do not enjoy:

They earn 10.000€ a month, parliamentary sessions only take place on 30-40 days a year, most of the MP's work is done by their aides, they have 10 weeks or more off each year (regular worker: 5 weeks), therefore you can easily expect them to be present all the time for voting - or pay fines.

And besides, MPs hardly spend time abroad or talking with constituents (in PR countries, it's different in FPTP countries) ... maybe a few days, but that's about it. It's mostly the cabinet members that are abroad sometimes.

[Tender Branson]

In the otherwise very lame summer silly-season, the FPÖ has created a massive controversy today by attacking the extremely popular Austrian singer Wolfgang Ambros (and along with him, Reinhard Fendrich).

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.france24.com/en/20180810-austria-singer-hit-top-after-far-right-party-spat

[Diouf]

The Austrian Parliament doesn't even have a clearing deal so that a proportional number of MPs can stay away from a vote? Didn't think the country was this backwards. No wonder it can't even conduct an election properly.

The consensus among voters is that MPs (who are lazy, overpaid losers who earn 10.000€ a month) should be present and voting all the time - just like regular workers. Exemptions of course for medical reasons, but no reasons other than that.

As for the elections, there was a trial recently which led to (mild) sentences for several election officials from 2016. The problem wasn't the vote counting itself (this was done properly of course), but the fact that some election officials used to fast-track the protocolls.

In a more developed democracy like Denmark, the parties are smart enough to agree to let a proportional number of their MPs stay away. Normally around 50% of MPs are cleared, so they can do actual work (meeting/visiting companies, NGOs, lobby organizations, constituents, negotiating political agreements, travel abroad etc.). The exception only if there are rebels on the majority side, so that there is actually any doubt about the outcome.

That doesn't have a whole lot to do with "a more developed democracy like Denmark" or not ... it's more that MPs already enjoy a lot of priviledges that regular workers do not enjoy:

They earn 10.000€ a month, parliamentary sessions only take place on 30-40 days a year, most of the MP's work is done by their aides, they have 10 weeks or more off each year (regular worker: 5 weeks), therefore you can easily expect them to be present all the time for voting - or pay fines.

And besides, MPs hardly spend time abroad or talking with constituents (in PR countries, it's different in FPTP countries) ... maybe a few days, but that's about it. It's mostly the cabinet members that are abroad sometimes.

That sounds like an unusually and unbelievably low workload for MPs compared to most other countries, but I guess if they have to use half a year campaigning for elections that are invalid and trying to overcome the impossible obstacle of locating workable glue, then there is not much time left for actual parliamentary work. Hopefully, Austrian companies are better at organizing the use of their workforce than their parliament; would be kind of weird if every employee was required to put a stamp on every outgoing item.

[Tender Branson]

The Austrian Parliament doesn't even have a clearing deal so that a proportional number of MPs can stay away from a vote? Didn't think the country was this backwards. No wonder it can't even conduct an election properly.

The consensus among voters is that MPs (who are lazy, overpaid losers who earn 10.000€ a month) should be present and voting all the time - just like regular workers. Exemptions of course for medical reasons, but no reasons other than that.

As for the elections, there was a trial recently which led to (mild) sentences for several election officials from 2016. The problem wasn't the vote counting itself (this was done properly of course), but the fact that some election officials used to fast-track the protocolls.

In a more developed democracy like Denmark, the parties are smart enough to agree to let a proportional number of their MPs stay away. Normally around 50% of MPs are cleared, so they can do actual work (meeting/visiting companies, NGOs, lobby organizations, constituents, negotiating political agreements, travel abroad etc.). The exception only if there are rebels on the majority side, so that there is actually any doubt about the outcome.

That doesn't have a whole lot to do with "a more developed democracy like Denmark" or not ... it's more that MPs already enjoy a lot of priviledges that regular workers do not enjoy:

They earn 10.000€ a month, parliamentary sessions only take place on 30-40 days a year, most of the MP's work is done by their aides, they have 10 weeks or more off each year (regular worker: 5 weeks), therefore you can easily expect them to be present all the time for voting - or pay fines.

And besides, MPs hardly spend time abroad or talking with constituents (in PR countries, it's different in FPTP countries) ... maybe a few days, but that's about it. It's mostly the cabinet members that are abroad sometimes.

That sounds like an unusually and unbelievably low workload for MPs compared to most other countries, but I guess if they have to use half a year campaigning for elections that are invalid and trying to overcome the impossible obstacle of locating workable glue, then there is not much time left for actual parliamentary work. Hopefully, Austrian companies are better at organizing the use of their workforce than their parliament; would be kind of weird if every employee was required to put a stamp on every outgoing item.

Stop being so sarcastic and get back to the topic at hand ...

If parliament only holds sessions on 30-40 days a year, you can at least expect all MPs to be present during the voting. I mean, they have 330 other days of the year to do their other work that you mentioned. Otherwise, they should pay.

[Diouf]

The Austrian Parliament doesn't even have a clearing deal so that a proportional number of MPs can stay away from a vote? Didn't think the country was this backwards. No wonder it can't even conduct an election properly.

The consensus among voters is that MPs (who are lazy, overpaid losers who earn 10.000€ a month) should be present and voting all the time - just like regular workers. Exemptions of course for medical reasons, but no reasons other than that.

As for the elections, there was a trial recently which led to (mild) sentences for several election officials from 2016. The problem wasn't the vote counting itself (this was done properly of course), but the fact that some election officials used to fast-track the protocolls.

In a more developed democracy like Denmark, the parties are smart enough to agree to let a proportional number of their MPs stay away. Normally around 50% of MPs are cleared, so they can do actual work (meeting/visiting companies, NGOs, lobby organizations, constituents, negotiating political agreements, travel abroad etc.). The exception only if there are rebels on the majority side, so that there is actually any doubt about the outcome.

That doesn't have a whole lot to do with "a more developed democracy like Denmark" or not ... it's more that MPs already enjoy a lot of priviledges that regular workers do not enjoy:

They earn 10.000€ a month, parliamentary sessions only take place on 30-40 days a year, most of the MP's work is done by their aides, they have 10 weeks or more off each year (regular worker: 5 weeks), therefore you can easily expect them to be present all the time for voting - or pay fines.

And besides, MPs hardly spend time abroad or talking with constituents (in PR countries, it's different in FPTP countries) ... maybe a few days, but that's about it. It's mostly the cabinet members that are abroad sometimes.

That sounds like an unusually and unbelievably low workload for MPs compared to most other countries, but I guess if they have to use half a year campaigning for elections that are invalid and trying to overcome the impossible obstacle of locating workable glue, then there is not much time left for actual parliamentary work. Hopefully, Austrian companies are better at organizing the use of their workforce than their parliament; would be kind of weird if every employee was required to put a stamp on every outgoing item.

Stop being so sarcastic and get back to the topic at hand ...

If parliament only holds sessions on 30-40 days a year, you can at least expect all MPs to be present during the voting. I mean, they have 330 other days of the year to do their other work that you mentioned. Otherwise, they should pay.

If the most important thing you look for in a MP is the ability to move their finger up and down, then sure it is absolutely crucial. Luckily this is not a widespread belief in Denmark, so the most important political actors actually spend their time trying to push through the preferred policies of their voters instead of half-sleeping in a chamber, where the results of the votes are a formality. Below the Danish MPs with the highest abstention rates, which is basically the list of the most influential politicians.

[Tender Branson]

As I have said, MPs should at least be present in parliament the limited time of the year that parliament is in session. They have plenty of time to do all of their political work in the remaining 300 days.

It's good for the optics and their impression among voters if they are present in parliament everytime it has a session. Besides, it would be unfair if an MP has an almost 100% abstention rate (like in Denmark), whereas a regular worker would be kicked out of a company right away if he/she fails to show up at work every 2nd day ...

[Tender Branson]

A new poll for Profil magazine has the FPÖ falling to the lowest support level since March:

ÖVP 34%, SPÖ 29%, FPÖ 23%, NEOS 5%, Greens 4%, LiPi 2%, Others 3%.

ÖVP gains 2.5%, SPÖ 2%, FPÖ loses 3%, NEOS and Greens remain stable, LiPi loses 2.5% and Others gain 1%.

https://www.profil.at/oesterreich/sonntagsfrage-fpoe-10265353

[Diouf]

As I have said, MPs should at least be present in parliament the limited time of the year that parliament is in session. They have plenty of time to do all of their political work in the remaining 300 days.

It's good for the optics and their impression among voters if they are present in parliament everytime it has a session. Besides, it would be unfair if an MP has an almost 100% abstention rate (like in Denmark), whereas a regular worker would be kicked out of a company right away if he/she fails to show up at work every 2nd day ...

A regular worker would be fired immediately for spending his/her time on unnecessarily stamping all outgoing items, when you could have machines or trained hamsters do that. A regular worker would be praised and get a raise for finding solutions to problems at the company in cooperation with the other workers.

[FrancoAgo]

The Eurofighter jets (which were purchased by the previous ÖVP-FPÖ government in a corrupt and way too expensive manner) will reach end-of-life by 2021.

they will not reach end of life in 2021, the eurofighter life is 30 years
the austrian government think they are too expansive to operate

[Tender Branson]

As I have said, MPs should at least be present in parliament the limited time of the year that parliament is in session. They have plenty of time to do all of their political work in the remaining 300 days.

It's good for the optics and their impression among voters if they are present in parliament everytime it has a session. Besides, it would be unfair if an MP has an almost 100% abstention rate (like in Denmark), whereas a regular worker would be kicked out of a company right away if he/she fails to show up at work every 2nd day ...

A regular worker would be fired immediately for spending his/her time on unnecessarily stamping all outgoing items, when you could have machines or trained hamsters do that. A regular worker would be praised and get a raise for finding solutions to problems at the company in cooperation with the other workers.

You said it right there ! At the company ... in parliament. They should be present at their workplace.

The Eurofighter jets (which were purchased by the previous ÖVP-FPÖ government in a corrupt and way too expensive manner) will reach end-of-life by 2021.

they will not reach end of life in 2021, the eurofighter life is 30 years
the austrian government think they are too expansive to operate

That's correct. I meant end-of-life for the government, because of all the shady dealings with Airbus in the past. If they have the options of upgrading the 15 or so Eurofighters for the next decade or so with costs of 200 Mio. € each, or buy new fighter jets - I guess they should buy new jets ...

[Tender Branson]

Another new poll by Ö24, with results for subgroups:

60% of voters approve of the ÖVP-FPÖ government, but only 36% approve of the SPÖ-NEOS-LiPi-(Green) opposition.

[Diouf]

As I have said, MPs should at least be present in parliament the limited time of the year that parliament is in session. They have plenty of time to do all of their political work in the remaining 300 days.

It's good for the optics and their impression among voters if they are present in parliament everytime it has a session. Besides, it would be unfair if an MP has an almost 100% abstention rate (like in Denmark), whereas a regular worker would be kicked out of a company right away if he/she fails to show up at work every 2nd day ...

A regular worker would be fired immediately for spending his/her time on unnecessarily stamping all outgoing items, when you could have machines or trained hamsters do that. A regular worker would be praised and get a raise for finding solutions to problems at the company in cooperation with the other workers.

You said it right there ! At the company ... in parliament. They should be present at their workplace.

I know Austrians are inclined to keep people locked for years in confined spaces, but I still don't see this as the best way to run a parliament. The sentence you are highlighting literally says "solutions to problems at the company" which would often be by contacts with suppliers, buyers, local government, or thinking up new smart ways of solving problems; not by locking all workers in a cold warehouse stamping all outgoing items as seems to be your preferred workflow.

[Tender Branson]

As I have said, MPs should at least be present in parliament the limited time of the year that parliament is in session. They have plenty of time to do all of their political work in the remaining 300 days.

It's good for the optics and their impression among voters if they are present in parliament everytime it has a session. Besides, it would be unfair if an MP has an almost 100% abstention rate (like in Denmark), whereas a regular worker would be kicked out of a company right away if he/she fails to show up at work every 2nd day ...

A regular worker would be fired immediately for spending his/her time on unnecessarily stamping all outgoing items, when you could have machines or trained hamsters do that. A regular worker would be praised and get a raise for finding solutions to problems at the company in cooperation with the other workers.

You said it right there ! At the company ... in parliament. They should be present at their workplace.

I know Austrians are inclined to keep people locked for years in confined spaces, but I still don't see this as the best way to run a parliament. The sentence you are highlighting literally says "solutions to problems at the company" which would often be by contacts with suppliers, buyers, local government, or thinking up new smart ways of solving problems; not by locking all workers in a cold warehouse stamping all outgoing items as seems to be your preferred workflow.

Encouraging high-earning MPs to spend 30 days a year in their workplace is certainly like locking people up ... do people who are locked up earn 10.000€ a month ?

Whatever, I made my point clear and your argument doesn't make a lot of sense.

[Diouf]

As I have said, MPs should at least be present in parliament the limited time of the year that parliament is in session. They have plenty of time to do all of their political work in the remaining 300 days.

It's good for the optics and their impression among voters if they are present in parliament everytime it has a session. Besides, it would be unfair if an MP has an almost 100% abstention rate (like in Denmark), whereas a regular worker would be kicked out of a company right away if he/she fails to show up at work every 2nd day ...

A regular worker would be fired immediately for spending his/her time on unnecessarily stamping all outgoing items, when you could have machines or trained hamsters do that. A regular worker would be praised and get a raise for finding solutions to problems at the company in cooperation with the other workers.

You said it right there ! At the company ... in parliament. They should be present at their workplace.

I know Austrians are inclined to keep people locked for years in confined spaces, but I still don't see this as the best way to run a parliament. The sentence you are highlighting literally says "solutions to problems at the company" which would often be by contacts with suppliers, buyers, local government, or thinking up new smart ways of solving problems; not by locking all workers in a cold warehouse stamping all outgoing items as seems to be your preferred workflow.

Encouraging high-earning MPs to spend 30 days a year in their workplace is certainly like locking people up ... do people who are locked up earn 10.000€ a month ?

Whatever, I made my point clear and your argument doesn't make a lot of sense.

Their workplace is the whole country, and their task is to improve it. That obvious logic shouldn't be very difficult to understand, even for Austrians.

[Tender Branson]

Their workplace is the whole country, and their task is to improve it. That obvious logic shouldn't be very difficult to understand, even for Austrians.

For the 30 days of the year when it is in session, their workplace is parliament.

PS: stop being so condescending.