Bures on the Parliament of the Excluded: Politics must also listen to the weakest in society

2023-10-16 20:30:14

People affected by poverty discuss their concerns with members of parliament in the “Parliament of the Excluded”.

Vienna (PK) – For the third time, the “Parliament of the Excluded” has met in the House to give people with experiences of poverty the opportunity to meet with parliamentarians and give them insights into the reality of their lives. On the initiative of the “Become Visible” platform and the Austrian Poverty Conference, Second National Council President Doris Bures invited people to the exchange. Around 60 participants were able to discuss their problems, concerns and demands with the health and social spokespersons of the parliamentary groups. The event was moderated by Michaela Moser, spokesperson for the Poverty Conference, and Philipp Sonderegger, who advises NGOs on human rights issues.

After the opening words by Second National Council President Bures, the chairman of the Committee for Labor and Social Affairs Josef Muchitsch and representatives of the “Become Visible” platform welcomed the guests. After the discussions and conversations at the world café tables, representatives from all parliamentary groups summarized the impressions they had gained in short statements.

Bures: The value of a society is measured by how it treats the weakest

In her opening words, the Second President of the National Council said:

Doris Bures said that on the eve of October 17th, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, it was an important political signal to dedicate ourselves to those who had “not fallen on the buttery side of life”. The value of a society is measured by how it treats its weakest members. It is the job of politicians to listen to these people too. She would therefore like to thank the Poverty Conference for the initiative for this event. She is particularly pleased that representatives of all parties represented in parliament are taking part.

Muchitsch: Social problems are becoming more and more visible

In his welcoming remarks, Josef Muchitsch (SPÖ), chairman of the National Council’s Labor and Social Affairs Committee, also emphasized that he was proud that the event had succeeded in discussing issues of the risk of poverty and exclusion across all parties. This is all the more important as more and more signs of an impending division in society are becoming apparent. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the problems of many social groups in Austria have become even more visible, such as children and single parents, the unemployed, especially when it comes to older workers, and pensioners. Politicians often do not take enough notice of their problems. Therefore, events like the “Parliament of the Excluded” are particularly important.

Platform “Becoming Visible” for participation and social human rights

The representatives of the “Become Visible” platform were welcomed in the form of a short performance, starting with the question: “Do I have to give up my last shirt?” The focus was on the concerns of the right to have a say and social human rights. “We are civil society”, “I don’t want to be a victim anymore” and “We have to become visible” were central statements that resulted in the statement: “Fighting poverty is a political decision.”

Conclusions of the MPs from the discussions with those affected

In the format of world café tables, the participants discussed the topics of “Energy and Housing”, “Inflation and Climate”, “Health and Nutrition”, “Basic Security and Social Assistance”, “Child and Old Age Poverty” and “Democracy and Participation” . At the end, the participating representatives were given the opportunity to briefly summarize their impressions and findings.

ÖVP integration spokesman Ernst Gödl said that in the discussion the different points of view were addressed very openly and sometimes harshly. He is grateful for this openness, as the welfare state can never be thought through completely and it is therefore important to point out existing gaps. For example, it is important to continue to address the problems of single parents.

Josef Muchitsch, social spokesman for the SPÖ, also referred to the problems of mothers and single parents and said that it is unacceptable that the decision to devote oneself to raising children is a path to certain poverty in old age. In his opinion, basic child security that is not just about money, but also offers social participation, is possible. It is also important to ensure that older employees can continue to use their experiences in their professional lives.

SPÖ MP Philip Kucher said that for him the discussions had confirmed how much the decisions that parliament makes affect people’s lives. Politics must therefore be measured by its actions.

Markus Koza, social spokesman for the Green Party, reported on discussions about the right to respect and dignity as a central human right. From his point of view, only real basic security can ensure this. A major challenge is to see climate protection as a social challenge and to ensure good jobs.

FPÖ social spokeswoman Dagmar Belakowitsch confirmed that rising rents and energy prices combined with low incomes are becoming a problem for more and more people in Austria. It is still important to address the issue of precarious working relationships. The social climate in the country is clearly getting colder. This is evident in many of the conversations she has with citizens.

NEOS health spokeswoman Fiona Fiedler said Austria’s health system is expensive but works inefficiently for many people. In their view, it is not so much more statutory health insurance positions that are important for ensuring basic medical care, but rather better health insurance contracts. The demand that people with disabilities who work in day workshops should receive wages instead of pocket money also remains. (final) sox

A NOTICE: Photos about this event can be found in Parliament web portal.

---

Questions & Contact:

Press service of the Parliamentary Directorate
Parliamentary correspondence
Tel. [phone]
press [e-mail]

www.facebook.com/OeParl
www.twitter.com/oeparl

1697504734
#Bures #Parliament #Excluded #Politics #listen #weakest #society