Austrian Government Outlines Priorities Ahead of National Council Plenary Session

Inflation and Economic Measures

The government aims to tackle inflation, a key concern for the SPÖ. Philip Kucher, the SPÖ club leader, highlighted the party's focus on the "fight against inflation." Meanwhile, new anti-fraud measures have been introduced to partially finance a reduction in VAT on basic foodstuffs, though the Greens oppose this measure.

A tax-free employee bonus of 500 euros will continue from July to December, and a 35-million-euro support fund for single parents is set to launch in July.

Energy and Military Service Debates

The Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act remains a contentious issue, requiring a two-thirds majority. While ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS support the act, the FPÖ abstains from energy-related legislation. Leonore Gewessler of the Greens criticized the current Ökostromgesetz as insufficiently binding.

On military service, the ÖVP proposes extending basic service from six to eight months, plus two months of militia exercises, and extending civilian service to one year. SPÖ leader Philip Kucher opposes the extension, while NEOS's Yannick Shetty argues that longer service without reform is impractical.

Political Dynamics and Leadership

Ernst Gödl, succeeding August Wöginger as VP-Klubchef, will deliver his maiden speech in the plenary session. Gödl expressed optimism about cooperation across party lines, noting his shared regional background with Leonore Gewessler.

The three club leaders—Gödl (ÖVP), Kucher (SPÖ), and Shetty (NEOS)—reportedly work well together. Shetty remarked on the trust among them, recalling *"100 Prozent Vertrauen"* (100 percent trust) last year and maintaining it *"auch nach den ersten zwei Wochen mit Ernst (Gödl)."* (even after the first two weeks with Ernst Gödl.)