The Freedom Party in Austria calls for the end of minimum income support for asylum seekers
The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) has called for an end to the minimum income support for asylum seekers in Vienna, proposing to introduce a resolution in the city council to reduce social assistance and address the increasing pressures on public spending.
Vienna City Council member Dominik Nepp and parliamentary group leader Maximilian Kraus criticized the high costs of supporting asylum seekers, pointing to rising rents, energy prices, and increased taxes that burden local residents. They explained that while other city services face budget cuts, more than one billion euros are still being spent on asylum seekers and those with subsidiary protection.
The party referred to a recent audit report that highlights gaps in oversight and management of asylum seeker programs. According to NIP, the report confirms the long-standing criticisms of the Freedom Party regarding poor integration and management efficiency.
The Freedom Party estimates that Vienna spends around 20 million euros annually on German language education programs for refugees, while the costs of caring for unaccompanied children and adolescents reach 18,000 euros per child per month. Costs are also increasing in the healthcare sector and administrative support, including the growing need for translators and refugee service staff.
In response, Kraus called for linking minimum income support and other social assistance directly to Austrian citizenship. The party considers this measure necessary to curb rising public spending and ensure fair distribution of resources among the Austrian population.