Lower Austria's Double Budget 2027/2028: ÖVP and FPÖ Against Criticism from SPÖ, NEOS, and Greens

Savings and Debt Forecast

Despite these savings, Lower Austria's debt level is expected to rise to 11.7 billion euros by 2028. This circumstance, as well as the renewed sale of housing promotion loans worth 400 million euros, which yielded 300 million euros, and the use of funds from the Generation Fund for the budget, are under criticism.

The Greens firmly reject the double budget. Floor leader Helga Krismer, state spokesperson of the Greens, described the plan as "Schwindling one's way through until the next state election" and criticized the lack of real reforms in care, health, and climate protection. In her view, there is insufficient consideration of nature and flood protection, biodiversity, as well as climate and energy projects.

Opposition Criticism

The NEOS joined the criticism. State party chair Indra Collini stated: "Dieses Budget ist mutlos, ambitionslos und reformlos." She sees the responsibility lying with the coalition leaders Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) and Udo Landbauer (FPÖ), who, as "captains on the bridge," bear the financial policy.

The SPÖ is also voicing sharp criticism. State party chief Sven Hergovich and the new floor leader Rene Zonschits acknowledged that rising costs in health, care, social affairs, and childcare pose major challenges for the state. They called for a reduction in party funding and a "reform turbo" for the state administration and state-related companies. "Niemand behauptet, dass die Erstellung eines Landesbudgets in wirtschaftlich schwierigen Zeiten einfach ist. Umso wichtiger wäre es aber, die richtigen Prioritäten zu setzen," said the Social Democrats.

SPÖ Insists on Healthcare Provision

On health policy, Hergovich and Zonschits made it unmistakably clear: "Mit uns wird es keine Notarztschließung durch die Hintertüre geben!" The SPÖ was reacting to fears that, as part of the savings, locations of emergency medical services could also be put up for discussion.

ÖVP floor leader Kurt Hackl vigorously defended the figures as a "Budget of Honesty" and emphasized that the state would invest more than ten billion euros in each of the coming two years. A two-day debate in the state parliament is now expected, in which the various positions are to be worked out. Further developments remain to be seen, as the opposition is already sending signals of rejection and expects the debt situation to worsen by 2028.