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Tax reform top of new finance minister’s list

Hans Jörg Schelling of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), is Austria’s new finance minister. He was formerly the head of the umbrella organization of health insurances (Hauptverband).

Published: 1 September 2014 10:18 CEST
Tax reform top of new finance minister's list
Schelling (L), with ÖVP head Mitterlehner (C), and the Secretary of State for Science and Business Mahrer. Photo: APA/Rubra

The 60-year-old management expert and management consultant is well-qualified for the job, according to observers and fellow party members. As the head of the Hauptverband, Schelling also has a great deal of experience with political debate.

Almost all parties renewed calls on Sunday for the long-promised tax reform. Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) plans to discuss this as soon as possible with Schelling. "Together we will discuss the major challenges – stable finances, tax relief, economic growth," he said in a statement.

Schelling was born in 1953 in Hohenems in Vorarlberg province (in west Austria). He studied business economics and started his career with the Leiner/Kika furniture company group in 1981.

In 1992, he became the manager of the furniture company XXXLutz. Under his leadership, the company grew to be the biggest furniture retailer in Austria with a turnover of €1.25 billion in 2003. In 2009, the company reached a turnover of €2 billion. Schelling sold his shares and left the company. Insiders estimate he is worth over €100 million.

Between 2007 and 2008 he was an ÖVP MP, and took over as head of the Hauptverband in 2009.

Schelling is married with two daughters.

Former Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger resigned last week after eight months in the role, over differences within the ÖVP over how to overhaul Austria's tax system and reduce its debt. 

President Heinz Fischer is due to swear in the new members of the cabinet. The new leader of the ÖVP, Economics Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner, will be sworn in as vice chancellor. 

On Monday morning, Fischer met with Schelling and the new secretary of state in the finance ministry, Harald Mahrer.

Aside from Mitterlehner, Schelling and Mahrer, members of the SPÖ will also be sworn in.

Minister for Infrastructure, Doris Bures (SPÖ), is taking over as speaker of parliament.

Former health minister Alois Stöger is taking over her post. He will in turn be replaced by trade unionist Sabine Oberhauser.

In addition, the secretary of state in the finance ministry, Sonja Stessl, is moving to the chancellery.

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POLITICS

Reader question: Can I vote in Austria’s national elections?

Austria’s national elections are scheduled for September 29th, but not everyone will have a say. Find out who can vote in these crucial elections and how foreigners can still make their voices heard.

Published: 20 September 2024 09:57 CEST
Reader question: Can I vote in Austria's national elections?

On September 29th, Austria will hold its highly anticipated national elections to elect a new parliament, marking a crucial moment for the country’s political future. 

The election comes at a time of growing political polarisation, with the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) leading in the polls, followed closely by the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). The centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) remains in third place, trailing behind its rivals.

READ ALSO: Austrian elections: Who could be the next chancellor?

As political tensions rise and critical issues like immigration and inflation dominate the discourse, these elections could significantly shift Austria’s political landscape. 

However, while the stakes are high, a large segment of the population won’t be able to vote, mainly because of Austria’s restrictive citizenship laws. 

Who can vote in Austria’s national elections?

The only people allowed to vote in Austrian federal elections are Austrian citizens aged 16 or above. This means foreigners – even those who have lived in Austria for decades – are not entitled to vote unless they have acquired Austrian citizenship. 

The country’s strict naturalisation process typically requires at least ten years of legal residence and a high income. Applicants must also give up their original nationality, as dual citizenship is rarely permitted.

While Austria is home to a large foreign-born population, many cannot participate in the political process. In Vienna, for example, as many as one in three residents of voting age cannot vote due to their non-Austrian citizenship. This leaves around 1.5 million people nationwide unable to vote in the upcoming elections, representing around 19 percent of the population aged 16 and over.

READ ALSO: What makes Austrian citizenship so hard to get?

How can foreigners “vote” in the elections?

A symbolic alternative for the many residents excluded from Austria’s national elections has been offered: the “Pass Egal” election, organised by the non-governmental organisation SOS Mitmensch. Since 2013, the Pass Egal election has given foreigners a platform to ‘vote’ and express their political preferences.

The Pass Egal election is open to anyone aged 16 or older who lives in Austria but does not have Austrian citizenship. Even Austrians who wish to show solidarity with non-voters can participate. This symbolic election gives a voice to those otherwise excluded from official polls, allowing them to vote for the parties running in the National Council elections.

In 2022, for example, more than 8,500 people from 86 countries participated in a mock election for federal president. 

While the vote doesn’t impact the actual elections, it highlights the political engagement of Austria’s foreign residents and adds visibility to the debate on voting rights and citizenship reform.

READ MORE: How foreigners can ‘vote’ in the Austrian national elections

What’s at stake in Austria’s national elections?

This year’s elections will shape the composition of Austria’s National Council and influence the country’s future political direction.

With the FPÖ leading in the polls, the possibility of a far-right resurgence is a crucial issue, while the ÖVP and SPÖ are working to gain ground in what is expected to be a highly competitive election.

For the large segment of Austria’s population that is excluded from voting due to the country’s citizenship laws, the Pass Egal election provides a way to engage politically, even if only symbolically. 

As the number of non-citizen residents in Austria grows, the debate over expanding voting rights to non-citizens and making the naturalisation process more accessible will continue.

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