Categories: World

After the Chancellor’s controversial video: Debate on poverty in Austria

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

Karl Nehammer, Chancellor of Austria, during the presentation of the “Believe in Austria” initiative. In a debate on poverty initiated by the Austrian Chancellor, the ruling conservative ÖVP remains on course despite criticism. Photo: Roland Schlager/APA/dpa

Achievements must be worthwhile and people also have personal responsibility, ÖVP Secretary General Christian Stocker said in Vienna on Friday. He responded to criticism from the opposition and social associations over a video in which Nehammer spoke to ÖVP officials about, among other things, the issue of hot meals for children from poor backgrounds.

«Do you know what the cheapest hot meal in Austria is? It is not healthy, but it is cheap: a hamburger at McDonald’s,” Nehammer said in the video, which was recorded at the end of July and appeared online this week. At the time, the Chancellor was also critical of his fellow party members about the high percentage of part-time work in Austria. Critics regarded the statements as cynical.

“We are anything but devoid of empathy,” Stocker responded. Austria has one of the best social systems and one of the lowest poverty rates in the world at 2.3 percent, he said. The ÖVP’s social policy has managed to keep the poverty rate stable, despite all the new problems. One in four people who work part-time do so voluntarily and are not forced to do so by, for example, care responsibilities. That’s why he has to live with less income in the short and long term, Stocker says.

Nehammer also defended his actions that appeared online. On the short message service

The ÖVP suggested on Friday that the opposition party SPÖ could have something to do with the publication of the video, which was posted online shortly after the start of an ÖVP campaign under the motto “Faith in Austria.” The chancellor’s choice of words was “pointed” and “pointy” – as is usual in internal events, not only in the political field – but the content was in line with the ÖVP’s official line, Secretary General Stocker said.

(SDA)

Advertisement

Source: Blick

Share
Published by
Amelia

Recent Posts

Terror suspect Chechen ‘hanged himself’ in Russian custody Egyptian President al-Sisi has been sworn in for a third term

On the same day of the terrorist attack on the Krokus City Hall in Moscow,…

1 year ago

Locals demand tourist tax for Tenerife: “Like a cancer consuming the island”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/4Residents of Tenerife have had enough of noisy and dirty tourists.It's too loud, the…

1 year ago

Agreement reached: this is how much Tuchel will receive for his departure from Bayern

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/7Packing his things in Munich in the summer: Thomas Tuchel.After just over a year,…

1 year ago

Worst earthquake in 25 years in Taiwan +++ Number of deaths increased Is Russia running out of tanks? Now ‘Chinese coffins’ are used

At least seven people have been killed and 57 injured in severe earthquakes in the…

1 year ago

Now the moon should also have its own time (and its own clocks). These 11 photos and videos show just how intense the Taiwan earthquake was

The American space agency NASA would establish a uniform lunar time on behalf of the…

1 year ago

This is how the Swiss experienced the earthquake in Taiwan: “I saw a crack in the wall”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/8Bode Obwegeser was surprised by the earthquake while he was sleeping. “It was a…

1 year ago