Meinl-Reisinger in the ORF summer talk: "We're cleaning up now"

NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger participated in the second round of ORF's "Summer Talks" on Monday evening. The Foreign Minister emphasized the need for further reforms within the government and highlighted her party as a driving force behind the reforms. "We in NEOS are certainly the drivers of the reforms," she said, pointing, among other things, to mandatory summer school for students with special needs starting next year.

When asked whether the NEOS lacked "social warmth" – citing rather poor ratings in terms of citizen engagement – Meinl-Reisinger denied this. The NEOS's drive has always been to enable citizens to live a good and self-determined life. "No party like the NEOS is as committed to lifting people's wings in the education system," she said, referring to a core issue of her party. "An education system that ensures we leave too many children behind is a social issue – and also a question of fate when you look at integration."

Consequently, she also referred to the plan, previously announced in the "Kronen Zeitung," that the "next step" would be mandatory German courses in the summer – specifically for students with limited language skills. The coalition parties ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS had already included this measure in their government program, subject to budget constraints. Across Austria, 48,450 students with special needs attend German language support classes, but currently only 17 percent of these are taking advantage of the summer school. "We want to change that – so that all students can start the new school year with improved German skills," Meinl-Reisinger explained before her TV appearance on the "Krone."

The NEOS leader also presented herself as a reform driver when it came to the budget. Asked about doubts about whether the plans presented so far would be sufficient, she said: "We encountered a difficult situation, both budgetarily and economically. We can't do anything about it; we're now pulling ourselves together and putting things back on track." And: "We NEOS are certainly driving the reforms." At the same time, she warned: The crisis is "certainly deeper than many believe." "Only if we become competitive again, if we increase our productivity, will we be able to overcome this."

At the same time, she didn't want to be "downplayed" by the steps taken: "We have savings amounting to seven billion this year and ten next year." These include "offensive measures." "That means we're on the right track here," she said. "But it's true, I believe we need even greater ambition in the government."

Meinl-Reisinger also referred to the government retreat planned for the fall. She stated that they are in "close consultation with the Finance Minister." A new stability pact is also needed, as it would only be of limited help if the federal government committed to the budget figures while the states ran a deficit. She positively emphasized the "reform partnership" agreed upon between the federal government, the states, and local governments, noting that the focus now is on initiating structural reforms.

On the topic of pensions, she once again emphasized the NEOS position, which considers a higher retirement age necessary in the long term – although this will only be possible with the coalition after the next election. "You can rely on us to continue pushing," she said, aiming to position her party as a driving force for reform here as well. She also wants to strengthen "personal responsibility" in the pension sector by strengthening the second and third pillars with a general pension fund agreement. She did not want to "preempt" the issue of upcoming pension adjustments.

Regarding inflation, Meinl-Reisinger wants to focus on the energy sector, and "a number" of laws are already underway. "Our goal is to enable more competition and empower consumers." Monthly billing, for example, could motivate consumers to switch providers more. The NEOS leader sees price interventions—for example, in food—as counterproductive and favors competition.

Regarding the ambassador affair at the Foreign Ministry involving obscene blog entries by an Austrian ambassador and a data leak that came to light last week, Meinl-Reisinger stated that the data leak had been resolved. Furthermore, no central IT systems were affected. Regarding the ambassador, she reacted immediately, recalling him, and appointing a commission, she emphasized. In any case, she objected to the fact that an entire institution of "excellent diplomats" was now being brought into disrepute.

Regarding the Gaza war, Meinl-Reisinger said Austria "clearly supports a two-state solution." "This has been expressed every time, in every conversation and meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister, with whom I have spoken very frequently on the phone in recent weeks, especially regarding the humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza," she said. She believes it is important to truly ensure peace in this region. "And that is only possible if there is a future of security for Israel, for Jews worldwide and, above all, in Israel—but also for the Palestinians on Palestinian territory."