Prammer wants speedy TA investigations

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Politics

Barbara Prammer has said exposed occurrences within Telekom Austria (TA) are “almost unbearable.” The Social Democrat (SPÖ) is, as first president of the federal parliament, the highest political representative of Austria after President Heinz Fischer. Prammer appealed on prosecutors to present the results of their investigations as soon as possible. The Social Democrat also said […]

More than 600 recruits did drugs last year

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General News

Nearly 700 conscripts tested positive on drugs last year, the defence ministry has announced.The ministry – which is headed by Social Democrat (SPÖ) Norbert Darabos – was pressed to reveal the figure after the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) filed a request in the federal parliament. The opposition party was informed yesterday (Thurs) […]

Right-winger resigns over ‘Blood and Honour’ tattoo

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Politics

A right-wing politician has stepped down after a dispute considering a tattoo.Carinthian Freedom Party (FPK) Councillor Gerry Leitmann announced today (Tues) he informed Franz Felsberger, the Social Democratic (SPÖ) mayor of Ebenthal, Carinthia, about his decision to resign yesterday.Leitmann came under fire by political rivals for a tattoo saying “Blut und Ehre” (Blood and Honour) […]

Fritzl town’s Hitler honour annulment finds followers

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Politics

Amstetten’s decision to strip Adolf Hitler of his honorary citizenship has triggered a certain sense of nervousness among politicians across the country.The Lower Austrian town – which gained unwanted fame for being the location of the ‘Fritzl incest horror house’ – revoked the honour earlier this week, 66 years after the Austrian-born Nazi dictator’s suicide. […]

Lack of reforms ‘will impoverish middle class’

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Politics

Austria’s middle class will impoverish if the country’s leaders fail to make any progress in reforming its bureaucratic, healthcare and pensions system, an opposition party chief has claimed.Josef Bucher, who heads the right-wing Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ), told the Die Presse newspaper today (Fri): “If we keep carrying on this way, it […]

Petzner admits speeding

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Politics

A right-wing politician has vowed to “draw political conclusions” from being caught speeding.Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) MP Stefan Petzner confirmed newspaper reports that he lost his licence for going at too high speed.Referring to the incident last December, the BZÖ Carinthia chief claimed he drove because of a “medical emergency”. Petzner said […]

No BZÖ-FPÖ cooperation in Vienna, says Sonnleitner

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Politics

Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) Vienna city parliament election front runner Walter Sonnleitner has ruled out cooperating with the Freedom Party (FPÖ).Sonnleitner said today (Tues) he agreed with federal BZÖ leader Josef Bucher not to form a coalition with the right-wing rivals after Sunday’s (10 October) Vienna vote.The former business journalist for national […]

Flopped Haider exhibit shuts after ‘negative propaganda’

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Politics

Organisers of an exhibition on late right-wing politician Jörg Haider have claimed “campaigning media” were to blame for the exhibit being a massive flop.Fewer than 11,000 people attended the exhibit in the Bergbaumuseum (Mining Museum) in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, since it opened in October 2009. Organisers and local politicians hoped it would draw 70,000.Curator Gerhard Finding […]

Faymann ahead as Styria vote nears

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Politics

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann is narrowly ahead of People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Josef Pröll in a popularity poll.Researchers Karmasin said today (Mon) Faymann would have the support of 24 per cent if people were eligible to elect the chancellor in a direct vote similar to the ballot for the federal president.Its survey […]

Anger as FPÖ official claims Haider was gay

Categories
Politics

Right-wing Austria is entangled in a bitter war of words over the sexual orientation of its late icon Jörg Haider after controversial statements by a Vienna councillor.Vienna Freedom Party (FPÖ) official Gerald Ebinger tried to encourage homosexuals to support his party at the 10 October city parliament elections.Asked why people should support the FPÖ which […]