NEOS demand Linz deputy mayor resign over budget dispute

NEOS has called for Linz Deputy Mayor Martin Hajart to resign after the city’s budget dispute escalated at a budget meeting on Thursday, ORF reported. The party says the ÖVP was the only group not to assess 180 proposed savings measures prepared by consulting firm BDO.

SPÖ, FPÖ and the Greens submitted their assessments, according to NEOS. The ÖVP said shortly before the deadline that it would not take part, prompting changes to the meeting’s proceedings, the party said.

The dispute comes after the ÖVP itself called for external experts to help put the city’s budget on a sound footing in January and backed the appointment of BDO in May, according to a NEOS statement.

NEOS group leader Georg Redlhammer said Hajart should step down, calling his refusal to assess the proposals irresponsible. NEOS says it submitted 23 savings proposals that would save nearly 19 million euros in 2027 and 28.6 million euros a year by 2031.

Redlhammer also criticised ÖVP proposals, including the “Sauschädelessen”, described as a mayoral reception, and a chauffeur service. He said all proposals should be discussed given the city’s budget situation. Hajart and the Linz ÖVP had not commented at the time of publication.