Prosecutors in Carinthia have confirmed a new investigation around the Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA) bank against 12 people. None of those under investigation were named. BZÖ-Deputy party leader Stefan Petzner had already indicated that there were new investigations around the end of October and now this has been confirmed by prosecutors. Spokeswoman Gabriele Lutschounig […]
Lower Austria’s regional Governor Erwin Pröll has announced plans for the elections in the region to take place next year on 3 March. Announcing the decision he said that the work of the local government would continue right up until the last minute and that the election campaign that followed, which would probably start on […]
Austria has been criticised for its high public debts. The European Commission (EC) announced yesterday (Weds) the country – which became a member of the European Union (EU) in 1995 – must do more to reduce its debts. The state’s debt ranges around 74 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). EU rules say […]
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 […]
The government is one step closer to passing a new party subsidisation law. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Media Secretary Josef Ostermayer – who represents his party in the talks with the opposition – expressed confidence regarding presenting the amendment in parliament in around two weeks’ time. SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann recently underlined that he wanted the […]
Unionists are alarmed by news that the education ministry plans to make significant changes to teachers’ contracts. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Education Minister Claudia Schmied reportedly wants to abolish various privileges of the country’s teachers. Works council committee officials are especially angered about claims that the minister intends to get rid of clauses which protect academics […]
People’s Party (ÖVP) Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner has defended the plan to finalise the talks for the government’s transparency package this year. Mikl-Leitner underlined today (Fri) that the various planned draft bills would come into force only next year anyway. She promised that her cabinet and the team of negotiators assigned by the Social Democrats […]
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 […]
The body of the former Libyan minister Shukri Ghanem, who was found dead in the Danube last week, has been transported to the Libyan capital Tripoli on Thursday. The coffin with Ghanem’s name on it arrived in Tripoli yesterday, according to wire agencies. The Austrian officials were initially not ready to confirm this information. Meanwhile, […]
Gabi Burgstaller is under attack after suggesting shorter holidays for teachers. The Social Democratic (SPÖ) governor of the province of Salzburg said yesterday (Tues) primary and secondary modern teachers “should have holidays of five weeks a year as everyone else”. Burgstaller told the Kurier the nine-week summer break should be cut to help parents. She […]