It is about “guaranteeing the freedom of everyone” – after the government’s failures in pandemic management, one now has to show responsibility together, argued Meinl-Reisinger in the ORF “press hour”. The FPÖ accused them of “wickedness” because they spread “lies”. The NEOS boss would like to have an expert as a pandemic manager to deal with the crisis.
Video: Liberal view of compulsory vaccination
“I am shocked at how they really pour oil on the fire,” Meinl-Reisinger criticized the liberals, as they “call for violence” and “play” with insecure people, “incite” them and “manipulate” them, and only “out” party tactical calculation “. “I’ve never seen such a wickedness,” said the NEOS boss. The formulation by Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP), according to which FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl has “blood on his hands”, is a drastic one – but “I actually ask myself the question of whether he can still look in the mirror,” Meinl recalled -Reisinger that Kickl recommended a worming agent as a drug that has been proven not to help against Corona. “In truth, it is unbelievable what lies the FPÖ is spreading.”
Video: Role of the Opposition in the Pandemic
Also NEOS does not agree with all government measures
The NEOS also do not agree with all government measures, assured Meinl-Reisinger. The ÖVP and the Greens had “done a lot wrong” in the pandemic, but now it is important to show responsibility, to work together and to find solutions. In this context, Meinl-Reisinger also defended support for the planned mandatory vaccination. “It is always difficult” as a liberal party, she has also changed her original opinion, the NEOS boss admitted. Too few people are vaccinated, however, and freedom cannot mean harming others – the compulsory vaccination is more about “guaranteeing the freedom of all”.
Video: Measures against division in society
Meinl-Reisinger is skeptical about gifts of money for vaccinations. The SPÖ had recently proposed a 500 euro voucher for the third trick. The trade union federation and the Chamber of Commerce reiterated their call for financial tax-free incentives on Sunday, because “no stone unturned” should be left to raise the vaccination quota by other means before the introduction of mandatory vaccinations, as WKÖ President Harald Mahrer and ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian told the APA . Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that the NEOS are in favor of positive approaches such as “advice before penalties,” but a bonus would not be as good as a tax incentive, for example. One should avoid that people only get vaccinated if they get money for it, because one does not know how many vaccinations will be necessary.
2G instead of lockdown
Meinl-Reisinger believes that a broad 2-G rule – i.e. access only for vaccinated or convalescent people – could have saved the general lockdown, which is now running out. She is critical of the fact that Vienna allows gastronomy and hotels to last longer. She believes that keeping schools open with a test system is the right thing to do, despite illnesses among children with reference to other collateral damage in the psychological area. In general, Meinl-Reisinger would like an expert to act as a pandemic manager to combat corona, an “explainer” who should provide reliable information and make suggestions to politicians.
In order to provide financial relief, Meinl-Reisinger demanded that the tax reform be brought forward. In order to relieve the pension system, she also proposed increasing the statutory retirement age by at least one month per year.
In terms of the federal presidential election, Meinl-Reisinger can imagine that the NEOS incumbent will support Alexander Van der Bellen if he runs again.
Source: Nachrichten
