Dogs are not banned at the Freedom Party headquarters in St Pölten in Lower-Austria – but members of the green party are according to a sign on the front door of their office. But the move intended as a joke has not been welcomed by the Green party members who accused the FPÖ of sinking […]
Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann considers a reform of national broadcaster ORF’s Stiftungsrat for the foreseeable future. The Stiftungsrat is a council with 35 members which has a function similar to a supervisory board. It is widely seen as an essential tool to Austria’s parties when it comes to trying to make themselves heard […]
A cuddle club has been set up in Vienna for people who miss physical contact that they can’t get from social media like Facebook and Twitter. Members at http://www.diekuschelparty.at/ have to pledge that they are there just for a good cuddle and not for any sexual reason – and before they can join in on […]
Former Freedom Party (FPÖ) Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser has denied any wrongdoing regarding the sale of real estate management company BUWOG. The enterprise – which manages more than 60,000 apartments – was privatised in 2004 when Grasser headed the finance ministry. Ex-FPÖ General Secretary Walter Meischberger and marketing expert Peter Hochegger, who used to be […]
A Catholic preacher plans to withdraw from his local parish after a gay man entered the community council. Florian Stangl, a homosexual carer of disabled children, received a majority of votes in the recent Stützenhofen parish community council ballot. Viennese Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, the highest representative of the Austrian Roman Catholic Church, gave the […]
Rudolf Hundstorfer has said that “clarity, transparency and comprehensibility” were needed to improve the reputation of Austrian politics. The Social Democratic (SPÖ) labour minister was asked to organise the activities of a special group of government members. The panel, which consists of SPÖ whip Josef Cap and People’s Party (ÖVP) Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner among […]
The new governor of Vorarlberg has criticised the government for its “politics of announcements”. Markus Wallner of the People’s Party (ÖVP) – who succeeded Herbert Sausgruber as head of the western province in December 2011 – said yesterday (Thurs) the federal government coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and ÖVP must reset its course. He appealed […]
The opposition wants to apply the criminal law for politicians engaging in the illegal subsidisation of their parties. The Greens, the Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) welcomed such a suggestion of Günther Kräuter, the general secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ). Kräuter said at the weekend that […]
An end to the feud between the Austrian Church’s leaders and a “disobedient” group of preachers seems out of reach. Graz Diocese Bishop Egon Kapellari warned from a splitting of the country’s Catholic Church if the Preachers’ Initiative failed to stop its activities. Kapellari appealed on the association of parish priests – which was established […]
The Viennese government plans to create a charter for better coexistence in the city. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Mayor Michael Häupl said yesterday (Tues) that the Viennese Charter should be formulated by November. He appealed to residents of Vienna to participate in discussing which aspects should be considered by the document. Greens Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou […]