26. 07. 10. - 12:00

Majority see decline in politicians' work

Fewer than one in 10 Austrians think that politicians do a better job these days than previous generations, a new poll has revealed.

Viennese research agency Karmasin said 62 per cent of Austrians said they registered a decline in the quality of politicians’ work and how they communicate with each other.

The agency also revealed that just seven per cent of those questioned lauded the country’s political decision-makers for improving their work over the years.

Karmasin interviewed around 500 Austrians for news weekly profil.

These findings come as the government and opposition are entangled in a bitter feud over next year’s budget.

Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) controversially announced plans to postpone the presentation of the 2011 budget from October to December.

The coalition argued this would give it better chances to react more efficiently to think tank’s predictions as well as to the development of the economy.

Opposition chiefs meanwhile accuse the government of accepting a breach of constitution which enforces a presentation of plans at least 10 weeks ahead of the affected year’s New Year’s Day.

Freedom Party (FPÖ), the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) and the Greens claim SPÖ and ÖVP tried to avoid risking losing out in the upcoming provincial elections in Styria (26 September) and Vienna (10 October) by revealing possibly harsh cuts and new taxes when these ballots are set to take place.

BZÖ boss Bucher said he could imagine calling for special summits throughout the parliament’s summer break in August to ask the SPÖ-ÖVP coalition what their plans were for next year’s budget.