Prosecutors examine TA’s Serbian adventure

Categories
Business

Austrian investors who cooperated with Telekom Austria (TA) are facing fraud investigations. Magazine profil reported in its online edition yesterday (Thurs) that anti-corruption investigators started examining the actions of billionaire Martin Schlaff and former People’s Party (ÖVP) chief Josef Taus, one of Austria’s busiest investors. TA benefited from Schlaff’s engagements in Bulgaria where the Austrian […]

Glawischnig says government acts in populist manner

Categories
Politics

The government is confronted with mounting criticism after presenting plans to lower the number of parliamentary delegates (MPs). The government coalition, formed by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), said earlier this month the number of MPs should shrink by 13 to 165 after the coming election. Viennese SPÖ Mayor Michael […]

Greens write off debt brake accord

Categories
Politics

Greens chairwoman Eva Glawischnig has claimed the government stopped being interested in adding a debt brake to the constitution. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann and Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger of the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) announced in November they agreed on establishing a constitutional debt limit. The government leaders said the measure should help […]

Berlakovich under Green fire

Categories
Politics

Greens chairwoman Eva Glawischnig has hit out at People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich.The Green Party head said Austria was likely to fail reducing its greenhouse gas emissions – and made the minister responsible for the development. Glawischnig also pointed out that the share of energy from renewable sources declined by two per cent […]

Constitutional Court head ‘worried’ about immigration police’s actions

Categories
General News

Federal Constitutional Court (VfGH) President Gerhart Holzinger has said the way immigration police acted in deporting eight-year-old twins was “sad and worrying”.NGOs were infuriated when dozens of armed WEGA police unit officers surrounded the Viennese apartment twin sisters Dorentinya and Daniela and their father Augustin Komani stayed in last week to await their deportation.The family […]

Minister to debate rising fuel prices with firms

Categories
Business

People’s Party (ÖVP) Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner will meet with mineral oil industry bosses and petrol station chiefs to discuss soaring fuel prices.More and more Austrian drivers are fuming as petrol stations upped prices shortly before the Easter and the Whitsun weekend holiday breaks.A vast majority of 90 per cent of Austrians even think firms […]

Greens to decide on presidential candidate this month

Categories
Politics

The Greens are to decide on whether or not to nominate a presidential candidate this month, party leader Eva Glawischnig revealed today (Tues).She said: “There are still contrary opinions within the party over the issue,” adding that the opposition party would make a decision at a meeting of its federal board on 19 February.Presidential elections […]