The head of the Federal Audit Office (RH) has appealed to political leaders to avoid “gambling away the future of our children”. Josef Moser provided the government coalition and the parliament’s opposition factions with a list of 599 suggestions where the country could become more efficient as lawmakers keep arguing over how to slash the […]
Tag: government
Placebo worries tarnish debt limit talks
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Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) boss Josef Bucher has labelled the government’s debt limit bill a “placebo brake” as chances for an accord between the coalition and one of the parliament’s three opposition parties are decreasing. The right-winger said today (Thurs) he was willing to fight for an agreement until Monday but also […]
People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger has warned it would be a “disaster” if Austria lost its AAA credit rating. Austria’s soundness is currently given the best-possible rating by the world’s leading credit rating agencies, Moody’s, Standard & Poors (S&P) and Fitch. Economist Bernhard Felderer recently warned that they could downgrade their outlook for […]
A legendary theatre actor has suggested politicians should “have their brains transplanted” at Vienna’s General Hospital (AKH) after medical staff presented plans to reduce night and weekend services. The AKH’s works council and the Austrian Doctors’ Chamber said on Monday just 154 doctors would be at work at the hospital during the night and at […]
Austria’s provinces will be allowed to breach upcoming debt limit regulations in extraordinary circumstances, it emerged yesterday evening (Tues). David Brenner, the financial councillor of Salzburg and head of the council of councillors for financial affairs, announced that the country’s nine provinces were given the right to spend more than scheduled in the next nine […]
Rating agencies ‘expect clear signal’
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Bernhard Felderer has explained why the Austrian government is well advised to fight for a two-third majority approval of its debt limit project. Social Democrats (SPÖ) and People’s Party (ÖVP) are currently trying to convince the Greens and the rightist Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) that its stricter budget path until 2020 was […]
Pilz opposes pay freeze
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A veteran Green Party member has spoken out against the government’s decision not to increase politicians’ wages next year. The coalition of Chancellor Werner Faymann’s Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger’s People’s Party (ÖVP) said on Sunday members of the parliament (MPs) would not get more in 2012. Delegates’ salaries were most […]
The number of doctors on night duty at Austria’s largest clinics is set to shrink, it has emerged. The works council of Vienna’s General Hospital (AKH) announced yesterday (Mon) that 145 doctors would be at work at night and at weekends from February 2012, down from 172 at the moment. The doctors’ representation explained it […]
Fekter set to clash with provinces
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People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter is braced for controversial arguments with the financial councillors of Austria’s nine provinces after David Brenner expressed concerns about the government’s debt limit. Brenner – who heads the council of provincial financial councillors – said today (Tues) the federal coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and ÖVP must abstain […]
Debt brake meets mounting mistrust
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The political leaders of Austria’s provinces are at odds about the government’s debt limit decision. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann and People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger announced on Tuesday that the coalition decided to implement a so-called debt brake. The government is dependent on the support of at least one of the […]