A significant majority of the Green Party decided to start coalition talks with the ÖVP last evening (Wed). Negotiations about a new state government will start today. Team Stronach will also take part in the talks. The ÖVP, which got most votes in the elections of 5 May, invited the Green Party and Team Stronach […]
People’s Party (ÖVP) Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl has ended his faction’s partnership with the Greens. Nagl announced yesterday (Weds) that the Graz delegation of the ÖVP would not cooperate with the Greens after next year’s city parliament election regardless of the outcome. He criticised the Graz Greens for being unreliable when it comes to working […]
Social Democratic (SPÖ) Finance Secretary Andreas Schieder has claimed that Greece has the chance to rebuild its economy. Speaking to magazine profil, Schieder warned from speculating about the costs of a Greek Eurozone exit. He said it attempt of trying to evaluate the costs of such a scenario were “not serious”. The Social Democrat said […]
The pressure on Social Democratic (SPÖ) Defence and Sport Minister Norbert Darabos is increasing as a new Audit Office (RH) examination indicates a waste of taxpayers’ money by the army. The RH announced yesterday (Tues) that 2,059 army employees were inactive in 2010. The institution said that these circumstances cost the state 66.1 million Euros […]
The designated chief of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) has called for an increase of the retirement age. Christian Keuschnigg, who is set to succeed Bernhard Felderer as head of the renowned research group next month, said such a measure would not cause an unacceptable amount of pressure on the Austrian social systems. Keuschnigg […]
Vienna Greens Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou has appealed on the Austrian Pirate Party (PPÖ) to consider a partnership. Speaking to the Kurier, Vassilakou said her party “will approach those who fight for data protection and a democratic net”. She warned that the Austrian Greens would not cooperate with right-wing extremists. Vassilakou referred to developments in […]
The Social Democrats (SPÖ) plan an initiative for shorter working weeks. SPÖ Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer said yesterday (Tues) he would appreciate a reduction of the general working volume from 40 to 38.5 hours. Hundstorfer claimed such a reform could help keeping elderly labourers and employees in work longer. He argued that lowering people’s average […]
A cross-country tax on financial transactions is anything but dead, Social Democratic (SPÖ) Finance Secretary Andreas Schieder has claimed. Schieder said today (Weds) that the Austrian government coalition of his faction and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) would keep up the pressure for the introduction of such a levy. He told the Kurier that the […]
The opposition has turned its guns on the government over the latest savings package. The Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) hope to save around 28 billion Euros in the coming years thanks to the budget consolidation pact. The package was passed in parliament yesterday (Weds). The opposition did not approve the […]
The Austrian infrastructure ministry has dismissed Emirates’ appeal for increased landing rights. The booming airline – which was founded in 1985 – wanted to offer two daily flights between Vienna International Airport (VIA or VIE) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) from Sunday (25 March). Now federal Social Democratic (SPÖ) Traffic Minister Doris Bures rejected the […]