Wallner calls Austria’s military service reform too slow

Vorarlberg Governor Markus Wallner criticised the Austrian government’s planned military service reform during an ORF summer interview in Schruns, saying negotiations were moving too slowly and involved too many compromises. ORF reported on Thursday that Wallner also discussed delayed housing projects, energy prices and the future of healthcare.

Wallner said politicians were finding it increasingly difficult to reach people with their messages amid the flood of information. He described explaining decisions and maintaining direct contact with the public as key responsibilities.

Housing projects delayed

Wallner said he still expected people to move into homes under the “Wohnen 550” initiative during the current legislative term. The initiative originally envisaged 300 homes.

However, procedures and local objections, including in Feldkirch, have caused delays. Wallner said the state remained committed to creating affordable housing.

Fewer posts in state administration

Up to 100 positions are to be cut in Vorarlberg’s state administration over five years. Several hundred employees are expected to retire in the coming years, and each vacancy will be reviewed to determine whether it needs to be filled.

“At a figure of 100, it would mean that we would not fill roughly every second vacancy,” Wallner said.

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are also expected to make the administration more efficient. Their possible applications are currently being examined.

Criticism of military service plans

Wallner said he was “not really” satisfied with the planned federal military service reform. He had supported a model involving eight months of basic military service followed by two months in the militia.

Under the proposed solution, questions concerning civilian service and people classified as unfit for military service remain unresolved, he said.

“It is going too slowly. It is bumpy. It involves many compromises,” Wallner said of the negotiations. If parliament failed to approve a reform, he said that would be “absolutely unsatisfactory and irresponsible”.

Energy prices could rise

Wallner said international conflicts and conditions on energy markets could push up gas and energy prices in winter. He said Vorarlberg was prepared, with gas reserves available and a guarantee keeping electricity tariffs below 10 cents until April 1 next year.

In the longer term, Wallner called for an Austria-wide power plant strategy and faster expansion of energy supplies. The dry summer had shown how dependent hydropower was on weather conditions. According to Wallner, production had fallen by almost 40 per cent.

Support for municipalities

After many municipalities warned in spring about heavy financial pressures, the state paid out 20 million euros in emergency support during the summer.

At the same time, reforms in social services, childcare, public transport and hospitals were discussed. Wallner said the state and municipalities needed to work together on these issues.

Public transport fares to be reviewed

A reform of public transport fares is to be evaluated in autumn following criticism of price increases for some tickets. Wallner defended the reform and Vorarlberg’s public transport system, saying it had become cheaper for many users and that the number of annual passes was increasing.

He acknowledged that some fare increases were clearly noticeable for passengers. These cases needed closer examination, he said, adding that officials should not be inflexible. Particularly steep increases could be corrected if necessary.

Call for earlier road reopening

Wallner called for the Silvretta-Hochalpenstraße road to be restored more quickly after major rockfalls forced its closure. He said reopening it only in 2030 would not provide an adequate prospect.

The closure was particularly affecting tourism and the economy in the rear Montafon valley. Wallner said the difficult geological conditions had to be taken into account, but authorities should nevertheless examine whether the work could be accelerated.

“Personally, 2030 is too long for me,” he said.