On Monday, Social Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) sent the ÖVP a draft for implementation, which was, however, rejected on Tuesday by the People’s Party in the person of Minister for Women Susanne Raab and Senior Citizens’ Association Chairwoman Ingrid Korosec.
The ÖVP has been pushing for automatic splitting to be enshrined in law for years now, as the voluntary option has hardly been accepted. A corresponding draft was sent to the Ministry of Social Affairs some time ago. When asked, they stressed that the new Rauch draft was based on these suggestions from the People’s Party, but that patch word families had also been included.
Solution before the election?
The Social Minister’s proposal provides for automatic splitting for parents between the children’s fourth and tenth birthdays. During this period, pension entries would be split between the parents. According to the minister’s proposal, this regulation would start in 2026. A solution to this complex matter could be found before the National Council elections, writes Rauch on “X”.
The ÖVP, on the other hand, is not at all satisfied with what the minister has proposed. All of the drafts presented by the responsible social minister are still completely unsuitable token drafts that have not been sufficiently coordinated with the executive bodies, Raab wrote in a press release. It is regrettable that no serious negotiations have been possible in four and a half years. Korosec saw a missed opportunity for equal rights for women and men.
At least in terms of the basics, the ÖVP’s ideas are not that far removed from those of the Minister of Social Affairs. The People’s Party’s proposal is to split the pension for children up to the age of two, with child-rearing periods excluded. There is to be a one-time, time-limited opt-out option. The contribution bases of both parents are to be credited to their respective pension accounts at 50 percent each.
