A top political analyst has rubbished calls to vote invalid or “white” as “undemocratic”.Political scientist Ferdinand Karlhofer said in a TV interview last night (Mon) that appeals to vote invalid at the 25 April presidential elections would not indicate democratic maturity.Several leading Peoples Party (ÖVP) officials such as whip Karlheinz Kopf appealed on their supporters […]
Tag: Fischer
Austrian glaciers are shrinking
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Environmental alarm bells are ringing as the vast majority of Austrias glaciers shrunk last year.Andrea Fischer of the Austrian Alps Society (OeAV) said today (Fri) studies have shown that 91 per cent of the countrys glaciers diminished in size in 2009.Fischer said the Niederjochferner decreased most drastically by 46 metres, followed by the Kesselwandferner (minus […]
A historian who came out supporting the Freedom Partys (FPÖ) presidential candidate Barbara Rosenkranz has accused Austrian media of “riding a campaign” against her bid.Lothar Höbelt, an expert on developments in Austrias right-wing political scene who has been linked with the FPÖ before, said yesterday (Tues) outdated controversial statements by Rosenkranz would be screened as […]
Barbara Rosenkranz, the right-wing Freedom Partys (FPÖ) presidential candidate, said yesterday (Thurs) she wanted Austria to leave the Schengen border agreement.Rosenkranz announced she would reintroduce border checks if she wins the 25 presidential election.Speaking about soaring crime figures, the FPÖ Lower Austria boss referred to crooks from Eastern Europe when she said that the “import […]
ÖVP MEP Karas to vote Fischer
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Othmar Karas has come out as the first major Peoples Party (ÖVP) representative to declare his intention to vote for incumbent president Heinz Fischer in the upcoming elections.The Member of the European Parliament (MEP) told the Kurier newspaper today (Fri): “Dr Heinz Fischer is the only eligible candidate from a European policies point of view.”ÖVP […]
The Freedom Party (FPÖ) accused incumbent president Heinz Fischer of trying to distract from other issues as he called for a reform of the presidents legislature.Fischer suggested over the weekend that the federal presidents legislative period could be extended to eight years with no possibility of running for a second term in office.The legislature of […]
OSCE to monitor presidential election
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The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will send election observers to Austria for the first time since World War II to monitor next months presidential elections.The body announced last night (Tues) it planned to send a ten-member team of experts to Austria to check structural aspects like press coverage and party financing […]
SPÖ to finance Fischer campaign
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The Social Democrats (SPÖ) will financially support the election campaign of incumbent president Heinz Fischer, it has emerged.SPÖ federal manager Günther Kräuter said today (Thurs) an “election fund” would be set up in which members will pay in around four Euros. This would be a sum of around one million Euros since the party has […]
Recent polls show that 83 per cent of Czechs believe corruption played a role in the Czech Defence Ministrys 2009 purchase of Austrian light wheeled tanks.Austrian firm Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge (SSF) sold 107 light-wheeled tanks to the Defence Ministry in 2009 for 559 million Euros, but Czech newspaper Mlada fronta Dnes recently claimed that Steyr had […]
Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer has said he may get the Czech secret service involved in the investigation of Austrian firm Steyrs sale of tanks to the Czech Defence Ministry.Czech business newspaper Hospodarske noviny quoted him in todays (Fri) edition as saying: “It is a question of whether the secret service has any relevant information. […]