Austrian chancellor under fire for saying low-income families should eat at McDonalds
Opposition parties, anti-poverty NGOs – and even his own governing coalition partners are criticising Chancellor Karl Nehammer after the Austrian leader’s comments on child poverty and women in part-time work were leaked on video.
The video, originally taken at the end of July at a Salzburg function, shows Nehammer asking: "What’s wrong with the parents? What do you mean a child doesn’t get a warm meal in Austria? Not healthy, but cheap – a hamburger at McDonald’s."
He goes on to say: “And someone is seriously claiming that we live in a country where parents can’t afford this food for their child!”
Nehammer also appears to target women working part-time in Austria when they don’t have childcare responsibilities, showing that part-time work hasn’t decreased. “If I don’t have enough money, I work more,” he said.
Das ganze #Nehammer-Video
via @Natascha_Strobl pic.twitter.com/IW0Obulc48
— Lukas Abulesz (@lukas_abulesz) September 27, 2023
Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, spokesperson on human rights for the Greens – Nehammer’s coalition partner in government – slammed the chancellor.
“Our job as politicians is to pay attention to those who are having a harder time in life,” she said. “They deserve our respect, solidarity and support instead of derision."
Social Democrat Eva-Maria Holzleitner said: “Nehammer has to apologise to women. Who does most of the unpaid work in this country?”
READ ALSO: Austrian minister wants foreigners to improve German level to keep social benefits
Comments
See Also
The video, originally taken at the end of July at a Salzburg function, shows Nehammer asking: "What’s wrong with the parents? What do you mean a child doesn’t get a warm meal in Austria? Not healthy, but cheap – a hamburger at McDonald’s."
He goes on to say: “And someone is seriously claiming that we live in a country where parents can’t afford this food for their child!”
Nehammer also appears to target women working part-time in Austria when they don’t have childcare responsibilities, showing that part-time work hasn’t decreased. “If I don’t have enough money, I work more,” he said.
Das ganze #Nehammer-Video
— Lukas Abulesz (@lukas_abulesz) September 27, 2023
via @Natascha_Strobl pic.twitter.com/IW0Obulc48
Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, spokesperson on human rights for the Greens – Nehammer’s coalition partner in government – slammed the chancellor.
“Our job as politicians is to pay attention to those who are having a harder time in life,” she said. “They deserve our respect, solidarity and support instead of derision."
Social Democrat Eva-Maria Holzleitner said: “Nehammer has to apologise to women. Who does most of the unpaid work in this country?”
READ ALSO: Austrian minister wants foreigners to improve German level to keep social benefits
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.