VIENNA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The two parties likely to form Austria's next federal coalition government have Friday revealed their plans to greatly toughen laws pertaining to asylum seekers.
As part of their ongoing coalition negotiations, the centre-right People's Party (OVP) and the right-wing Freedom Party (FPO) appear close to having finalized their "Security, Order, and Homeland Security" agenda that includes the asylum issue.
Their respective leaders, Sebastian Kurz and Heinz-Christian Strache, fronted the media to announce the planned changes, that include a shift away from individual housing for asylum seekers, and instead toward group housing and the provision of basic services.
In addition, monetary handouts will be reduced, and more non-cash benefits be made available.
Approved asylum seekers will also no longer be eligible for citizenship after six years, but will instead have to wait 10 years like other migrants.
Both parties also wish to increase the rate of deportations, particularly for asylum seekers who commit crimes, and to reduce the overall length of time for asylum application procedures.
A goal of the new measures is to limit illegal migration to zero and to reduce overall migrant numbers that has in the past been too high, the two leaders stated.
