Today in Austria: A roundup of the latest news on Monday
Plans to introduce electricity price brake, deadline for energy voucher extended, church contributions under fire from FPÖ party and more news from Austria on Monday.
Electricity price brake expected in October
There are signs that an electricity price brake may come into effect later in the year in Austria, meaning a certain quota of electricity would be made available for each household at a certain price. The Austrian Finance Minister Brunner (ÖVP) has said that the ÖVP-Green government is currently in the process of working on this electricity price brake. He expects a corresponding law to be passed in September and that it will come into force in October, according to broadcaster ORF .
Last week, Vienna’s finance minister Peter Hanke told the Standard newspaper that people should set their heating to 19 degrees and suggested the capital's museums might be set to a lower temperature to reduce energy costs.
READ ALSO: Austria announces electricity price cap from autumn as prices soar
Energy voucher: Deadlines extended
By the end of June, every household in Austria should have received an energy voucher worth 150 euros, which can be redeemed and given to their electricity supplier. Now the deadline to request a voucher has been extended until the end of October. There is also more time to redeem the voucher, until the end of the year instead of the end of October. The voucher cannot be redeemed in 2023.
Households that have not yet redeemed their voucher or have to apply for a new one, for example because the voucher was lost or did not arrive, have more time to do so. New vouchers can now be requested from the energy cost compensation hotline on 050 233 798 until the end of October.
READ MORE: How to claim your €150 energy discount in Austria
Right wing FPÖ Party calls for pause in church contribution payments
The right wing FPÖ party leader Herbert Kickl appealed to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn at the weekend to suspend the payments of Catholic church contributions in Austria for an indefinite period in view of the current extreme wave of inflation. The Archdiocese of Vienna replied that It has been “practice in the Catholic Church for years”, to take into account the individual situation of its contributors.
"Of course, nothing will change in the current crisis or in the future," stated the press office of the Archdiocese of Vienna, according to Kathpress.
Kickl had previously said that Schönborn, as head of the church, should know "how poverty and existential fears can affect people - and for many of them every cent that they have or don't have at their disposal counts", broadcaster ORF reports, adding it was very difficult to get an exemption from contributions.
READ MORE: What is Austria's church tax and how do I avoid paying it?
FPÖ party rocked by reports found on former MP’s phone
The FPÖ party has had what the Standard newspaper described as “a horror week” after advertisements briefing against top officials in FPÖ Vienna was found on the phone of former FPÖ MP Hans-Jörg Jenewein. Vienna FPÖ boss Dominik Nepp said the report was “completely irrelevant”, while noting that the matter would be “clarified internally”. The Vienna FPÖ head also criticised the media, which he said had exaggerated the issue, arguing that an attempt was being made to provoke a dispute within the party, broadcaster ORF reports.
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Electricity price brake expected in October
There are signs that an electricity price brake may come into effect later in the year in Austria, meaning a certain quota of electricity would be made available for each household at a certain price. The Austrian Finance Minister Brunner (ÖVP) has said that the ÖVP-Green government is currently in the process of working on this electricity price brake. He expects a corresponding law to be passed in September and that it will come into force in October, according to broadcaster ORF .
Last week, Vienna’s finance minister Peter Hanke told the Standard newspaper that people should set their heating to 19 degrees and suggested the capital's museums might be set to a lower temperature to reduce energy costs.
READ ALSO: Austria announces electricity price cap from autumn as prices soar
Energy voucher: Deadlines extended
By the end of June, every household in Austria should have received an energy voucher worth 150 euros, which can be redeemed and given to their electricity supplier. Now the deadline to request a voucher has been extended until the end of October. There is also more time to redeem the voucher, until the end of the year instead of the end of October. The voucher cannot be redeemed in 2023.
Households that have not yet redeemed their voucher or have to apply for a new one, for example because the voucher was lost or did not arrive, have more time to do so. New vouchers can now be requested from the energy cost compensation hotline on 050 233 798 until the end of October.
READ MORE: How to claim your €150 energy discount in Austria
Right wing FPÖ Party calls for pause in church contribution payments
The right wing FPÖ party leader Herbert Kickl appealed to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn at the weekend to suspend the payments of Catholic church contributions in Austria for an indefinite period in view of the current extreme wave of inflation. The Archdiocese of Vienna replied that It has been “practice in the Catholic Church for years”, to take into account the individual situation of its contributors.
"Of course, nothing will change in the current crisis or in the future," stated the press office of the Archdiocese of Vienna, according to Kathpress.
Kickl had previously said that Schönborn, as head of the church, should know "how poverty and existential fears can affect people - and for many of them every cent that they have or don't have at their disposal counts", broadcaster ORF reports, adding it was very difficult to get an exemption from contributions.
READ MORE: What is Austria's church tax and how do I avoid paying it?
FPÖ party rocked by reports found on former MP’s phone
The FPÖ party has had what the Standard newspaper described as “a horror week” after advertisements briefing against top officials in FPÖ Vienna was found on the phone of former FPÖ MP Hans-Jörg Jenewein. Vienna FPÖ boss Dominik Nepp said the report was “completely irrelevant”, while noting that the matter would be “clarified internally”. The Vienna FPÖ head also criticised the media, which he said had exaggerated the issue, arguing that an attempt was being made to provoke a dispute within the party, broadcaster ORF reports.
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