New Austrian coalition government unveils governing program

VIENNA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the two parties that will form Austria's next coalition government have presented the program for their upcoming five-year term in office to the media on Saturday.

Sebastian Kurz of the People's Party and Heinz-Christian Strache of the Freedom Party, who will serve as Austria's chancellor and vice-chancellor respectivel, addressed the media at a joint press conference in Kahlenberg in Vienna.

Kurz said that in recent years Austria has been overtaken in its position by other countries, and the new government must now attempt to make things better again, adding there are too many rules and regulations, that must become fewer but must be adhered to by all.

Economic matters are one of the major items on the agenda, Kurz said, no new taxes would be implemented, and cutbacks would instead be made within the system. Reforms in areas such as minimum incomes and increased flexibility of working hours would also be addressed.

The soon-to-be chancellor said the government will be aiming to reduce taxes to 40 percent by the end of the legislature period.

A toughening of refugee policy, particularly with the need for quicker processing, and a tougher stance on illegal immigrants including quicker deportations, are also a main goal.

Kurz spoke out against the current refugee quotas in European states, saying on some days more refugees arrive than can be distributed.

He said Austria will continue to maintain a pro-European Union stance, as well as remain in the other organizations it is presently involved with. Despite euro-skepticism from the Freedom Party in the past, Strache too acknowledged the coalition would remain true to the European project.

Strache said no miracles could be performed by the new coalition, though with many small steps the summit can be reached. He noted that for many things only small adjustments will be needed, and sometimes none at all.

He said the two parties have very good chemistry, and shared common ground on about 75 percent of their governing program.

On Friday, Austria's center-right People's Party and right-wing Freedom Party agreed to govern together for the next five-year term.

On Saturday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen had meetings with Kurz and Strache and was presented with the coalition agreement. Enditem