Dozens of schools will be closed this year, the Styrian government has revealed. The province’s coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ), People’s Party (ÖVP) and Freedom Party (FPÖ) said yesterday (Tues) that it planned to shut down 31 primary schools throughout the 2012/2013 term. Schools with just one class of 20 pupils and fewer would be […]
Austrians acquired less fuel last year, according to a traffic research organisation. The Austria Traffic Club (VCÖ) said yesterday (Sun) around 9.6 billion litres of petrol were sold in 2011, down from 9.7 billion litres in the previous year. An all-time record was achieved in 2005 when 10.2 billion litres were sold across the country, […]
People’s Party (ÖVP) chief Michael Spindelegger has pointed out that his party wants to restore the country’s public budget without tax increases. The foreign minister, who took over when Josef Pröll resigned as ÖVP chief in April 2011, said yesterday (Thurs) his faction found that the state debt could be lowered significantly by austerity measures. […]
The Freedom Party (FPÖ) has attacked the People’s Party (ÖVP) over its plan to increase the pension age in the coming years. ÖVP Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger announced yesterday (Thurs) his party aimed at raising the actual pension age by four years by 2020. He said a bonus system should ensure that people worked longer. […]
A conservative politician has started a countrywide debate by suggesting that people should be ordered to pay a charge after leaving the Church. Maximilian Hiegelsberger of the People’s Party (ÖVP) said earlier this week that Austrians who decided to cancel their membership in the Roman Catholic Church could be asked to transfer a certain sum […]
Labour Chamber (AK) President Herbert Tumpel has demanded higher corporation taxes. Tumpel said yesterday (Thurs) Austrian firms had handed over just 17 per cent in taxes in 2010 despite the mandatory 25 per cent taxation rate. He explained the investigated enterprises used various loopholes to evade worse tax burdens. The AK investigated the performance of […]
Richard Lugner has revealed details about his Sunday shopping initiative. The businessman – who owns and manages Vienna’s Lugner City shopping centre – recently said he contacted Social Democratic (SPÖ) Mayor Michael Häupl to find out whether the city of Vienna might issue an extraordinary regulation enabling him to open on the seventh day of […]
A leading Social Democrat (SPÖ) has rejected the People’s Party’s (ÖVP) latest suggestions to economise. ÖVP boss Michael Spindelegger said yesterday (Thurs) that the state could save “more than 10 billion Euros” altogether by 2016 by reducing certain investments. Spindelegger made clear that the agricultural sector would not be spared from austerity measures. However, the […]
Ski resorts forced to remain closed by a lack of snow in December have now been forced to close many runs because of too much snow. Ski resorts across Austria and Switzerland say they are now struggling to cope after metres of snow combined with high winds and stormy conditions over the past 48 hours […]
A group of teenagers escaped unscathed after their car slipped off a bridge in Kleinzell, Austria yesterday (Weds). The three involved were left dangling off the bridge, hanging on only by their rear wheels. The group of youngsters, aged between 17 and 21 were driving across a wet bridge, when they lost control of their […]