Issue dated August 3, 2023
Linz – As reported, the debate about increasing politicians’ salaries should actually be over, because there will probably be a zero wage round for the top politicians at federal level and the rest – from the municipal to the National Council – should get 5 percent in view of the inflation rate. Probably, because a two-thirds majority is needed and both SPÖ and FPÖ are still waiting, want to keep the topic simmering… and are already starting to haggle, although the topic will probably not be on the agenda until December. SPÖ leader Babler concedes that the government will show a “minimum amount of respect” towards people through the zero-wage round, but in the next breath he calls for rents to be frozen. And his FPÖ counterpart, Kickl, is wielding the central club and, in one go, wants to dictate federal laws to states and municipalities to freeze the top salaries of their politicians and their companies. Honestly: This debate should be held in the respective state parliaments and local councils, the FPÖ sits in many anyway and can get involved accordingly. But Kickl is right about one thing: he didn’t deserve a raise himself, having skipped a total of 23 National Council meetings.
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