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09. 02. 12. - 18:00

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09. 02. 12. - 18:00

SPÖ sees smaller parliament as key signal

The general secretary of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) has argued his support for a reduction of the size of the parliament.

Günther Kräuter told newspaper Die Presse today (Thurs) that slashing the number of seats by 18 to 165 "would increase people’s acceptance for the austerity package". Kräuter said it was of great importance that politicians made clear that they were not scared of carrying out cutbacks affecting their professional environment.

Kräuter admitted that such a reduction may not occur in the near future due to various technical and bureaucratic issues, but also said that the government should formulate a mandatory declaration of intent. Kräuter added that another important aspect of a possible reduction of the number of members of the federal parliament (MPs) was to avoid a limitation of the opposition’s rights.

Styrian SPÖ Governor Franz Voves and Lower Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Governor Erwin Pröll recently spoke out in favour of such a step. Pröll also suggested considering a reform of the duties and responsibilities of the federal president. He was harshly criticised by constitutional experts for this appeal.

Voves said the federal council (Bundesrat) should be reduced as well. The head of the Styrian Social Democrats suggested lowering the number of members from 62 to 52. Experts think that five million Euros could be saved a year with a smaller parliament and Bundesrat – a comparably low sum considering the SPÖ-ÖVP administration’s willingness to lower costs by 10 billion Euros or more by 2017.

The Greens said appeals to reduce the number of MPs were nothing but populism. Barbara Prammer, the Social Democratic president of the parliament, is sceptical as well. However, Prammer generally welcomed the discussion about a reform of the Bundesrat. The former women’s minister admitted that current regulations kept the federal council from acting efficiently.

SPÖ and ÖVP may focus on a reform of the parliament after having finished the current savings package negotiations. The government coalition is pressurised to accelerate its cost reduction strategy due to Austria’s exploding debts. Trying to lower the number of MPs could boost their popularity after following the expected bad news for pensioners and public servants. Both groups are bracing for drastic cutbacks in the coming years.

The government coalition might identify a restructure process of the parliament as its chief task of the next months as the parties must fear significant losses in next year’s general election. The SPÖ claimed 29.3 per cent in the most recent federal ballot in 2008, down from 35.3 per cent in 2006. The ÖVP garnered 34.2 per cent in 2006 before its share dropped to 26 per cent.

The right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) managed to do 6.5 per cent better in 2008 when it won 17.5 per cent than in 2006. The Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) bagged 10.7 per cent in the latest federal vote (2006: 4.1 per cent). The Green Party suffered a loss of 0.6 per cent from 2006 to 2008 when it garnered 10.4 per cent of the votes.

Austrian Times

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