Austrian Chancellor Stocker's taxpayer-funded summer tour draws criticism

Chancellor Christian Stocker has launched a nationwide "Austria in Conversation" tour, visiting all nine states and inviting 200 citizens per event to discuss government matters. The initiative is financed directly from the chancellor’s office budget rather than the ruling ÖVP party, meaning the cost is borne by taxpayers.

Opposition parties, including the FPÖ, SPÖ and NEOS, have condemned the tour as a partisan publicity stunt funded with public money, especially as it follows a recent government austerity package. Critics also question the selection process, which relies on self‑registration and a pollster, Peter Hajek of Public Opinion Strategies, rather than random sampling, raising concerns about neutrality and the use of state resources for political gain.