Current Stocker Against Higher Statutory Retirement Age

Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) is currently against the increase in the statutory retirement age desired in economic circles. The priority is to increase economic performance, and for that, a retirement age of 70 in 2035 will not be the criterion, he said in the APA summer interview. Stocker also does not want to tamper with Austria's neutrality. He is optimistic about the reform partnership between the federal government, states, cities, and municipalities.

Two Billion Relief?

"We have set the pension reform in motion, and I oppose it being downplayed," emphasized Stocker regarding partial pensions and other measures to raise the actual retirement age. This is expected to bring budget relief of around two billion euros per year: "If we succeed, then I believe we have achieved a lot. If we do not succeed, there is the sustainability mechanism, and raising the statutory retirement age is one of the measures that can then be decided."

From Stocker's perspective, it is primarily about the country's competitiveness. "And I say quite openly, if we are now discussing whether the statutory retirement age should be 70 in 2035, then we fail to recognize that the questions we have to solve today will lie in economic performance, the inflation rate, wage agreements, and the gross domestic product." All of this will have a direct impact on how Austria will fare in the coming years: "And in that regard, 2035 with 70 years will not be the criterion."

No Deviation in Part-Time Work

On the topic of part-time work, Stocker aligned with his party colleagues. "If we want to maintain our services together, we will have to make a joint effort. And anyone who opts out endangers the entire system. That's just the way it is." However, this criticism is not directed at people with caregiving responsibilities, whether for children or relatives, where part-time work is likely the preferred option.

The Chancellor denied that the coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS is avoiding unpleasant topics, not only in pension matters but also in military national defense and specifically regarding the future of Austria's neutrality. "We are not shying away from it, but neutrality neither makes us safer nor less safe if we abolish it," he explained: "We have not fared so badly with this neutrality in the past, and I say, if it were gone, nothing would be gained for security."

The aim is to increase defense spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2032, starting from only 0.6 percent in 2023, currently at 1.1 percent: "That is a tremendous effort." Austria is also participating in "Sky Shield" as a European project and has never understood its neutrality as political neutrality. Stocker's conclusion: "Austrian self-defense also contributes to security on this continent."

Reform Partnership: Stocker Optimistic

In general, the goal has been set to proceed in harmony with consolidation, reforms, and a return to growth. Stocker places high expectations on the "reform partnership" of the federal government, states, cities, and municipalities. Stocker does not believe that this could fail like the constitutional convention more than 20 years ago. The reason for his optimism: "We are in a situation where the financial possibilities are such that we will not be able to preserve the status quo." By the end of 2026, the focus will be on the four areas of energy, health, education, and administration.

Goals include shorter waiting times in healthcare or achieving basic competencies for everyone at the end of compulsory schooling. He did not rule out shifts in responsibilities between the territorial authorities; "I believe that we should not impose any limits on ourselves before we enter negotiations." However, the aim is not to change structures and see what comes out of it, "but rather to have a clear vision and find a structure to match it."

Middle East and Migration

Internationally, Stocker denied that Austria's position on Israel had changed. The country and its population were attacked "in an incredibly cruel way" and have the right to defend themselves. Hamas has it in their hands to end the conflict. "But it is, of course, the case that what the civilian population in the Gaza Strip is suffering is unacceptable." They should not pay the price for Hamas's terror. The goal must be a political solution.

Regarding irregular immigration to Austria, the Chancellor maintained his criticism of the European Court of Human Rights' (ECHR) rulings on deportation and family reunification. "The discussion is not about abolishing human rights, it is not about changing the convention in its principle, but about whether it is applied in the way those who signed it intended."

FPÖ sees "Wordplay"

The FPÖ rejected Stocker's statements. Secretary General Christian Hafenecker identified "a mere wordplay to distract from the catastrophic record of this chaotic coalition" in a press release. Stocker leaves himself a backdoor for a pension increase with the sustainability mechanism. Only the FPÖ under Herbert Kickl consistently opposes raising the statutory retirement age.

The reaction from the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) was in the opposite direction, continuing to advocate for an "open, factual, and taboo-free discussion" about the future of the pension system. The steps taken so far are welcomed, "but they do not yet make a generationally fair pension reform," it said in a press release: "The reality is: The actual retirement age is significantly related to the legal framework, therefore we will not be able to avoid raising the statutory retirement age."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.