Many think foreigners given preference, poll shows

Categories
General News

More than four in 10 Austrians think immigrants receive preferential treatment compared to the country’s citizens, a new study has revealed.Pollsters IMAS said today (Fri) 42 per cent of the 1,000 Austrians they interviewed complained foreigners, asylum seekers and immigrants were treated better by authorities than themselves.The research results come just weeks after Viennese agency […]

New law bans Under-18s from solariums

Categories
Politics

Austrian teenagers are banned from tanning shops as of today (Weds) amid skin cancer fears.The law preventing Under-18s from using tanning salons in the country was agreed upon by all five parties represented in the Austrian parliament last year.The government stressed managers of solariums, hotel bosses and other businessmen face fines of up to 2,180 […]

Haider ally compares Austrian papers with Nazis

Categories
Politics

Former allies of late right-wing spearhead Jörg Haider have launched an unprecedented attack on Austrian media over their coverage of alleged secret bank accounts.News weekly profil claimed on the weekend that ex-Freedom Party (FPÖ) boss Haider stashed around 45 million Euros in more than 40 different accounts in the principality bordering Austria.The magazine wrote that […]

Erste Bank CEO wants tax on assets

Categories
Finance

The head of Austria’s second-biggest bank has caused a stir by calling for the introduction of a tax on assets.Erste Bank boss Andreas Treichl told weekly magazine News today (Thurs): “A ’decent’ taxation on assets must be set up, of course, as well as (higher) real estate tax levels and inheritance tax.”Treichl also said tax […]

Majority back total smoking ban, poll shows

Categories
General News

The number of Austrians backing a total smoking ban in pubs and restaurants has soared after a new ruling went into force earlier this month.Opposition party chiefs have criticised the government coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) for its ruling which forced venues smaller than 50 square-metres to decide between becoming […]

Grosz says BZÖ will not team up with ´hashish LIF´

Categories
Politics

The Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) head’s announcement he wanted to join forces with the Liberal Forum (LIF) has sparked surprise and opposition within the party.BZÖ chief Josef Bucher said yesterday (Thurs) he was waiting to hear back from LIF bosses after making an offer to team up. “I see a voting potential […]

BZÖ wants ‘economy’ a school subject

Categories
Politics

The Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) plans initiatives for more focus on economic subjects at school.The opposition party’s announcement comes after research revealed that half of around 1,900 Austrian university students were unable to answer more than half of the questions about economic issues correctly.Party chief Josef Bucher said today (Mon): “Economics should […]

BZÖ attacks government for helping ‘money sink’ Greece

Categories
Politics

Austrian opposition politicians have criticised the government for deciding to financially support “money sink” Greece.Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) boss Josef Bucher said in parliament yesterday (Weds): “European leaders have failed. They have now agreed to assist ‘money sink’ Greece while not mentioning anything about a tax on risky financial speculations.”Bucher claimed the […]

Former BZÖ members plan to run in Vienna vote with new party

Categories
Politics

The crisis of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) seems to continue with members of its Vienna branch founding a new party.Christian Neubacher, provincial manager of the FBZ – Freies Bündnis Zukunft (Free Alliance for the Future) party said today (Tues) the new party was set up last month and had 35 members […]

‘Haider soulmate’ Petzner resigns as BZÖ general secretary

Categories
Politics

Stefan Petzner announced he would step down as general secretary of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) after weeks of denying reports he considered such a move.Petzner said yesterday (Thurs) he wanted to fully focus on his duties in the province of Carinthia where he was named head of the party’s branch earlier […]