FPÖ state party chairman Christof Bitschi is not satisfied with the focus of the state budget, despite all the increases in grants.
Vorarlberg has a record budget at its disposal. “And yet there are many Vorarlbergers who have their backs to the wall due to the massive wave of inflation,” he explains on Thursday evening in Vorarlberg LIVE.
Both young families and people of retirement age are affected. “There was of course our suggestion that this money should also be used to actively invest in Vorarlberg for these people.” From his point of view, the ÖVP prefers to invest tax money in reducing debt. “Doing serious business also means paying attention to people’s worries and needs,” emphasizes the Liberal. In addition, the cost of living in Vorarlberg is actually much higher than in most of Austria, which, in his view, was not sufficiently taken into account.
Country can act in health
Another construction site, not only in Vorarlberg, is the staff situation in the hospitals and care facilities. Bitschi sees the need for a crisis summit here. “We have an enormous shortage of staff in all central areas of the country, whether in education, security or health,” warns Bitschi.
He points to individual departments that are struggling to maintain the normal roster. “We are in one of the richest countries in Austria, one of the richest countries in the world. And there is the situation that beds are empty, although people are waiting for them.” Ultimately, the answer to a lack of staff is more and more salary and better working conditions. Even if it is a problem that does not only exist in Vorarlberg, appropriate steps must be taken.
The whole show
This does not end with the caregivers. “Anyone who has had anything to do with the health sector in recent years knows that there is of course a two- or even three-class medicine in this country,” he sees failures to counteract the emigration of doctors.
The fact that there have been relatively few insolvencies in Vorarlberg so far is primarily due to the family businesses in Vorarlberg. “The Vorarlberg economy does not work because of the state government, but in spite of the state government.” The S18 is needed here, which the current green coalition partner is actively preventing.
The broadcast “Vorarlberg LIVE” is a cooperation between VOL.AT, VN.at, Ländle TV and VOL.AT TV and is broadcast from Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. There’s more here.
