Hundstorfer suggests to double truancy penalty

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Politics

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour and Social Affairs Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer has said the fines for breaches of education regulations might rise. Hundstorfer said before the meeting of government ministers yesterday (Tues) that he could imagine to support an increase of the maximum penalty from 220 Euros to twice this amount. The labour minister once more […]

Higher penalties are possible, says Schmied

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Politics

The education ministry has said it could imagine upping charges for truancy. People’s Party (ÖVP) Integration Secretary Sebastian Kurz announced yesterday (Mon) the families of pupils who were caught skipping lessons should face higher penalties. Kurz told radio Ö1 that the maximum charge of 220 Euros was too low in his opinion. He claimed that […]

Forced marriage law extension likely

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Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) State Secretary Sebastian Kurz has called for a reform of Austria’s anti-forced marriage law. Forced marriages are not a criminal offence under the current regulations if carried out abroad. Austrians and people living in Austria are facing legal consequences for such actions only if this kind of marriage occurs within the country’s […]

No Turkish private school for Tyrol

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Politics

A Tyrolean town has rejected a group of Turkish businesspeople’s appeal to run a school. A commission formed by Rum Town Hall officials announced yesterday (Tues) it unanimously agreed to veto the endeavour. Turkish investors and retail trade entrepreneurs asked decision-makers whether they could create and manage a private school. The group aimed at setting […]

Additional mandatory kindergarten year planned

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Politics

Many small children in Austria could soon be ordered to attend kindergartens for two years, the government coalition has said. People’s Party (ÖVP) Integration Issues State Secretary Sebastian Kurz suggested yesterday (Weds) to expand the current mandatory one-year kindergarten scheme to reduce the risk of many kids fall behind at school due to poor language […]

Turkish debate set to intensify over new immigration figures

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Politics

More than one out of five residents of Vienna are foreigners, statistics have shown.Federal agency Statistik Austria said today (Fri) the capital’s percentage of foreigners was 21.5 per cent while only 11 per cent of Austria’s populace have other nationalities than Austrian. The authority also explained that, with more than 368,000, around 40 per cent […]

Slack study result for Spindelegger after Kurz controversy

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Politics

A controversial right-winger has higher approval ratings than new People’s Party (ÖVP) boss Michael Spindelegger.Research firm Karmasin found in a poll for magazine profil that 13 per cent of Austrians want Heinz-Christian Strache (FPÖ), head of the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ), to become the country’s next chancellor. Only 12 per cent say the same about […]

Eight in 10 rule out ÖVP win

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Politics

A vast majority think that the People’s Party (ÖVP) has no chance to come first in the next elections.Research group Karmasin questioned 500 Austrians for political magazine profil. The agency said today (Mon) that 48 per cent of interviewed citizens think the conservative party “will rather not” come out on top in the next federal […]

ÖVP focuses on core group as critics attack Kurz

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Politics

New People’s Party (ÖVP) General Secretary Hannes Rauch has said his party must stop trying to meet a majority’s demands.The Tyrolean told the Kurier newspaper today (Thurs): “We have to leave the idea behind us that we have to satisfy 60 or 70 per cent. The ÖVP is a party with many members. We have […]

Vienna leaders reject WLAN appeal

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Politics

Public transport passengers in Vienna will not be provided with free wireless local area network (WLAN) internet access.The city government coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Green Party ruled out such implementations in the near future. The government was pressed to comment on the issue after federal People’s Party (ÖVP) youth leader Sebastian Kurz […]