FPÖ's Dominik Nepp Raises Concerns Over Vienna's Support for Subsidiary Protection Recipients

Vienna has become a central hub for subsidiary protection recipients, according to Dominik Nepp, the head of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) in Vienna. He expressed concerns that the city is turning into a social safety net for thousands of these individuals, primarily from Syria, which he believes poses security risks to the local population.

Recent statistics from the Interior Ministry indicate that around 84 percent of subsidiary protection recipients in Austria are based in Vienna, placing a financial burden on local taxpayers. Nepp criticized the situation, stating that while asylum seekers are spread across various regions of Austria, those who are granted subsidiary protection, which does not equate to full asylum status, predominantly reside in Vienna. The city's high financial support rates, comparable only to those in Tyrol, are identified as an attraction for those seeking long-term residency without contributing to society.

Currently, of over 13,000 individuals holding subsidiary protection at the start of the year, approximately 11,000 live in Vienna. The average duration of stay for these recipients in Vienna is reported to be around 758 days, the highest in the country.

Nepp argued that the current immigration policy is ineffective and has disproportionately impacted Vienna both financially and in terms of security. He criticized the local administration for creating disincentives and jeopardizing the safety of Viennese citizens. He pointed to recent incidents of violence, particularly involving individuals from Syria, including knife attacks and robberies, as indicative of the need for policy reevaluation.

Nepp called for a significant reduction in benefits for subsidiary protection recipients as a means to curb the influx into Vienna and to address the resulting challenges faced by the city.