Maier demands rail tunnel referendums

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Politics

Outgoing People’s Party (ÖVP) parliament member (MP) Ferdinand Maier has suggested to let Austrians decide about the future of the various Austrian railway tunnel projects. The Social Democrats (SPÖ) of Chancellor Werner Faymann and Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger’s ÖVP decided to spend more than three billion Euros on the Semmering tunnel. Only last week, the […]

Kopf shrugs off Maier exit

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Politics

The People’s Party (ÖVP) is in turmoil after the resignation of Ferdinand Maier. Maier announced in a radio debate he would retire next month instead of in autumn. The controversial parliament member (MP) was not allowed to express his critical opinion regarding the decision of the government to make debts of 33 billion Euros to […]

Class struggle accusations shatter reform talks

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Politics

The feud of the government parties is intensifying after People’s Party (ÖVP) whip Karlheinz Kopf accused the chancellor of engaging in a class war. Kopf told the Kurier yesterday (Sun) that Werner Faymann would have to accept the main responsibility for a possible failure to agree to a savings package within the agreed deadline. Social […]

Rudas confirms tax hike intention

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Politics

Social Democratic (SPÖ) General Secretary Laura Rudas has defended her party’s intention to increase taxes. The SPÖ wants to raise some taxation rates to restore the budget while its coalition partner, the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), expressed the intention to concentrate on lowering investments. Rudas said today (Weds) “all experts” were of the opinion that […]

InterSky passenger figures up as new rival takes off

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Business

Bregenz-based airline InterSky had significantly more passengers last year than in 2009.The company announced today (Fri) it registered 250,000 clients in 2010, up from 185,000 in 2009 and 210,000 in 2008. InterSky said it wanted to grow further, but “will only invest money which we earned.”The carrier, which focuses on business travellers, said its target […]

Textiles tycoon challenges AUA

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Business

A textiles industry businessman has vowed to succeed Austrian Airlines (AUA) in offering flights between St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport and Vienna International Airport (VIA).Bosses of the St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport, which is located just a few kilometres from the Swiss-Austrian border, cancelled their cooperation with AUA last October. They explained AUA must stop its service as of […]