The director of Caritas in Innsbruck, Elisabeth Rathgeb, was not at all in agreement and urged Gerber to "moderate".

Caritas Wants "Clarity"

"Social subsidies secure the existence of people in need. These people have no lobby - they need our support", Rathgeb said in a statement, simultaneously demanding "clarity" from Gerber: "Should the compensatory allowance be cut for minimum pensioners? Should single parents have their minimum security cut? Or should people who can only keep their apartment warm with the heating allowance be left in the cold?"

The director of Caritas rather appealed to the negotiators not to lose sight of "necessary social justice in austerity measures." Social safety nets must be maintained and strengthened.

Not Just Social Benefits

However, Gerber wanted to see savings not only in social benefits. There is no doubt that there must also be significant cuts in subsidies, he told the "TT". This would be supported by the economy and industry. He has always been sceptical about "pointless actions like the climate bonus and they should be abolished immediately", he said, adding: "We have nothing to give away."

The Minister of Economic Affairs, who is part of a black-red state government in Tyrol, meanwhile welcomed the pace of FPÖ and ÖVP in the government negotiations as well as the commitment to budget consolidation. Gerber had already expressed his support for a coalition with the FPÖ in a "reform government" at the beginning of the year, shortly after the negotiations between ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS or also between ÖVP and SPÖ had failed.

(APA/Red)

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