FPÖ pressure works: WKNÖ stops planned salary increase for officials!

FPÖ pressure works: WKNÖ stops planned salary increase for officials!

A change in the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce is causing excitement among editorial staff and political observers. Today, November 12, 2025, the Lower Austrian Economic Chamber (WKNÖ) announced that it would temporarily suspend the planned increase in officials' compensation. FPÖ General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz sees this decision as a success of the FPÖ's pressure. But is this really a sign of insight, or just a tactical retreat on the part of the ÖVP?

Schnedlitz sharply criticizes the ÖVP grandees and describes their behavior as a self-service mentality. He calls for all planned salary increases in all chambers to be canceled without replacement and permanently. “This is not a sign of real insight, but a sign of tactics,” he said provocatively and called for the immediate resignation of the ÖVP Economic Association leader Harald Mahrer. Schnedlitz also sees the recent statements by ÖVP General Secretary Nico Marchetti, who speaks of “mistakes that have happened,” as impudence and an attempt to trivialize a scandal.

Political pressure and demands

The dispute over the salary adjustment shows once again how important political transparency and integrity are for entrepreneurs in Lower Austria. Schnedlitz demands that ÖVP Chancellor Christian Stocker should actively intervene and remove Mahrer. “The chambers should serve entrepreneurs and not party bigwigs,” he emphasizes and announces additional resistance to compulsory membership in the Chamber of Commerce. The issue polarizes minds and shows that the pressure on the Chamber of Commerce is not going away unnoticed.

In politics, where appearances are sometimes more important than reality, one could say: “There is something going on.” In any case, Schnedlitz and the FPÖ do not seem to be prepared to let the matter rest. The coming weeks could be turbulent if the FPÖ continues its resistance to the existing structure and sets new standards in the political discussion.

The big picture

The resistance to salary adjustments, like urban politics in many European countries, is a reflection of larger social and economic trends. People are demanding more transparency and fair conditions in cooperation with institutions such as the Chamber of Commerce.

This development is important not only for politics, but also for the entrepreneurs who operate in such an environment. After all, we live in times when every business needs to be well thought out and every cent counts. Especially in a city like Vienna, where the economy is diverse and dynamic, it is crucial that the voices of entrepreneurs are heard and taken seriously. It will be exciting to see how the situation develops and what concrete steps the FPÖ will take in the coming weeks.