Doskozil Advocates for Mandatory Military or Social Service for Youth

Hans Peter Doskozil, the Governor of Burgenland and a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), has proposed the introduction of a compulsory military or social service for young men and women. This initiative is intended to last for nine months and aims to address personnel shortages in the nursing sector, as stated in a recent interview.

Doskozil expressed satisfaction with the collaborative efforts within the new red-green coalition government at the state level after 100 days in office. However, he criticized the national coalition government for lacking creativity and imagination in its approach to governance.

In Burgenland, significant progress has been made in establishing 71 nursing support centers, with increased hiring of caregiving personnel and plans for two new dementia centers in the northern and southern regions of the state. In contrast, Doskozil condemned the federal government for allowing the healthcare system in Austria to evolve into a multi-tiered structure, risking the integrity of essential services. He accused the People's Party (ÖVP) of prioritizing business interests over public welfare.

Doskozil is keen to discuss the proposed mandatory military or social service, believing it could serve as a critical reform. By emphasizing nursing, he argues that a substantial workforce could be mobilized. He suggested extending the current six-month military service to nine months and introducing a corresponding social service for both young men and women, with the hope that this would encourage some participants to pursue careers in nursing.

He has previously called for the dissolution of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), questioning its necessity. Doskozil believes that healthcare management should be the responsibility of the federal states rather than a centralized authority. He argued that the current system could be more efficient if managed at the state level.

Moreover, he criticized the federal government's cost-cutting measures, describing them as superficial and lacking the necessary structural reforms. Despite the SPÖ being in opposition, Doskozil acknowledged the importance of fiscal responsibility and expressed support for the new finance minister's efforts, even within the constraints of coalition politics.

On the local front, Doskozil has noted a marked improvement in relations with the ÖVP at the state level, having already engaged in discussions about a municipal support package that would alleviate financial burdens on local governments. He aims for this package to be approved before the summer.

As part of state budgetary constraints, personnel expenses have been frozen at EUR250 million, and a hiring freeze is currently in effect. Efforts are underway to streamline IT operations and consider merging cultural departments to enhance operational efficiency.

Doskozil also plans to review constitutional challenges related to pension regulations and taxation measures regarding excess profits from energy providers, arguing that these do not alleviate the financial burden on citizens.

After five years of single-party governance, the SPÖ has now been collaborating with the Greens for over 100 days. Doskozil described this partnership as respectful and constructive, with both parties addressing complex issues openly. He emphasized the importance of integrating community needs into governmental decisions, particularly concerning the construction of a hospital in Gols, which is near a protected nature area.

Regarding migration, he noted a decrease in the number of asylum seekers and dismissed border rejection policies as ineffective, viewing them as a sign of desperation rather than a real solution. He pointed out missed opportunities in the past to establish processing centers for migrants in Turkey, particularly with the recent Schengen expansion.