12-hour demo

Socialist youth wants to expropriate vacant properties

The SJÖ demonstrates against rising housing costs in front of the ÖVP headquarters in Vienna.(Bild: krone.tv)

"Young people can hardly afford to move out" - one of many reasons why the Socialist Youth is holding a 12-hour protest action in front of the ÖVP headquarters on Friday to draw attention to the high cost of housing in Austria. Moving out is increasingly becoming a pipe dream ...

"Young people are literally being cemented into Hotel Mama," complains Paul Stich, chairman of the Socialist Youth. He attributes the cause to the misguided housing policy of recent years. "Rents are the responsibility of the ÖVP," he emphasizes. Which is why the protest action is deliberately taking place at the ÖVP headquarters in Vienna.

As part of the campaign, a typical shared flat with three rooms was recreated to illustrate the everyday lives of young people. The kitchen? Filled with pasta, rice and beans - all from S-Budget, of course. This scenery reflects the harsh reality of many young Viennese. The protest had several program items dealing with housing policy. For example, the worst housing advertisements were humorously commented on.

The Austrian Socialist Youth blamed the ÖVP for the rise in rents.(Bild: krone.tv)

Socialist Youth (SJ) activists also spoke out loudly and talked about their experiences on the housing market.

Expropriation for long-term vacant housing
In addition to immediate measures such as a rent cap and the expansion of starter homes for young people, the SJ is calling for a radical restructuring of the housing market. For example, long-term vacant housing that is used exclusively for speculation should fall back into public ownership - and thus be expropriated. 

Watch the full video above.