NEOS General Assembly: Pink Party Sees Itself as "Reform Engine"

In the balloon hall of the Arsenal in Vienna, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger called for structural measures in budget consolidation and more transparency in state finances at the NEOS members' assembly. The Pink Party adopted a key motion for a "community-centered federalism."

NEOS Members' Assembly: Meinl-Reisinger Praises Pink Work in the Government

No major elections took place on Saturday. In March, NEOS members had approved government participation with around 94 percent in the balloon hall. They entered the coalition during a time of multiple crises, including probably the most economically persistent crisis of the Second Republic, said NEOS party leader Meinl-Reisinger. She praised her party's government work so far and referred to the pension reform and the federal prosecutor's office. That there is also impatience in the party was noted by MP Veit Dengler in an interview with the "Kurier" (Saturday edition): "The country needs major reforms and I agree with everyone who says: Much more needs to happen here." SPÖ and ÖVP are "not quite as ambitious as we are." For example, performance levels in pensions need to be discussed.

She could not promise that everything would happen quickly, said Meinl-Reisinger; patience is needed in the negotiations. She demanded more clarity in any case regarding the budget figures, which have recently continued to deteriorate. After all, it is frustrating to receive new figures week after week, "which are then worse again." Structural measures are needed for budget consolidation, NEOS demands a "community-centered federalism." A corresponding key motion received approval of 96.87 percent on Saturday.

The communities should therefore receive more tax autonomy by being directly allocated a portion of the income tax. This should be done unbureaucratically and automatically through the tax office, said Vorarlberg NEOS state spokeswoman Claudia Gamon. Double and triple funding should be abolished. NEOS wants to transfer personnel competence in education to the federal government, and health should be organized in health regions.

Meinl-Reisinger at NEOS Members' Assembly: "Who Wants Peace Needs Strength"

There is much discussion about how much she is traveling around the world, said Meinl-Reisinger. An active foreign policy is needed, she rejected the criticism - foreign policy has never been as domestically significant as it is today. She advocated for investments in European defense capabilities: "Who wants peace needs strength." One must also defend against populists who "want to destroy everything that defines us." Meinl-Reisinger particularly criticized attacks on volunteer engagement and NGOs. The FPÖ, in unison with other right-wing parties in Europe, has recently repeatedly attacked non-governmental organizations.

The Freedom Party promptly launched an attack against the Pink Party. "NEOS are not a reform engine, but the most expensive stepping stone of the Second Republic," said the blue General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz in a statement. For two positions, Meinl-Reisinger and Deregulation State Secretary Josef Schellhorn "sold their own party." Once again, he repeated the criticism of Meinl-Reisinger's activity.

In the evening, the 32-year-old economic forensic expert and Pink club chairwoman in Vienna-Hietzing, Katharina Kainz, was elected as a new member of the Extended Board. NEOS now has over 4,000 members, announced General Secretary Douglas Hoyos at the beginning. 500 people participated in the fully booked balloon hall at the members' assembly. This should have actually taken place in June but was postponed due to the rampage at a school in Graz.

(APA/Red)

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